Barrington bans plastics — will Portsmouth be next?

PORTSMOUTH — With Barrington becoming the first town in the state to ban polystyrene plastics (including Styrofoam) in almost every setting, we asked a few business people and stakeholders on how they’d feel about such an ordinance being proposed in Portsmouth.

Last year the town banned most single-use plastic bags, but hasn’t yet considered the more sweeping changes the Barrington Town Council approved earlier this month. To cheers from audience members, the council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to approve an ordinance which prohibits Barrington businesses from selling polystyrene plastics, including Styrofoam. 

The law also bans Barrington businesses from packaging items in polystyrene products. No longer can businesses use Styrofoam coffee cups or polystyrene plastic food containers; they must use packaging that is biodegradable or compostable. The deadline for businesses to comply is July 1, and all other businesses or operations (clubs, events held on town property, etc.) that “provide food for human consumption” must comply by Jan. 1, 2020.

According to Lauren Polselli, a manager at Foodworks Restaurant on East Main Road, it makes sense for seaside towns such as Portsmouth to adopt such measures, but the idea to extend the ban around Rhode Island might run into some challenges elsewhere in the state. 

"It might be harder for other towns in northern and western Rhode Island doing this as they don't see as much as an impact from plastics,” Ms. Polselli said.

Foodworks would support a ban on plastics if the restaurant was allowed enough time to figure out some alternatives to plastic, she said. 

The restaurant has already begun phasing out plastic straws by not offering them to patrons anymore, Ms. Polselli said. Foodworks still has plastic silverware, but servers now ask guests if they need plastic utensils before they leave, she said. 

"There's no point in putting out more plastic if people don't need it,” she said.

At the Roger Williams University (RWU) Baypoint Residence and Conference Center, the university has prided itself on getting rid of the majority of plastics that students, staff and faculty may use. 

Leslie Greene, a service crew member in the dining hall at Baypoint, said plastic cups and straws have been eliminated entirely. However, out of safety concerns, members iof the kitchen staff are still required to use plastic cups. 

“RWU only made the switch last semester. However, a lot of restaurants that I go to now either offer paper straws or do not offer straws at all,” said Ms. Greene. 

She added RWU does a good deal of composting and recycles plastics whenever possible. “We now use eco-friendly cleaning products, changed over our water system and use paper cups for hot beverages,” said Ms. Greene. 

Growing up in the 1960s and ’70s, Ms. Greene said she was accustomed to using paper straws and reusing glass bottles, and that the transition to plastics did not become widespread until the late 1970s. More people should be aware of sustainability issues and adopt more eco-friendly options, she said.

“I believe that more people should be aware of the issue,” she said. “Who wouldn't want to save the earth?”

Michael Leverett, store manager at Clements’ Marketplace and president of the Portsmouth Business Association, declined to comment for this story.

Recycling chairman comments

Ted Pietz, chairman of Portsmouth’s Solid Waste/Recycling Committee, said the group plans to discuss the matter at an upcoming meeting. 

“The (committee) may choose to discuss the topic or take a formal vote to formally take an advisory stance. Based on precedent, I would imagine the option taken will be the former,” Mr. Pietz stated in an e-mailed messagve to The Portsmouth Times. 

He added, “From an outsider perspective, Barrington does not seem to be afraid to be a trailblazer in addressing the complex issues surrounding the ecological impacts regarding the use of plastics.”

Dave McLaughlin, executive director of the environmental advocacy group Clean Ocean Access (COA), said the organization feels good about its role in plastic bag bans in 10 different Rhode Island communities. More work needs to be done, however, and he is encouraged by Barrington’s action as well as statewide efforts on tackling plastics.

“I think Aquidneck Island should continue to move forward with a community-based call to action to eradicate litter and unnecessary single-use material that negatively impact ocean health, and businesses will save money by eliminating single-use material,” Mr. McLaughlin said.

With additional reporting by Jim McGaw.