Monday, February 5, 2018

Ramapo College SGA Passes Bill Banning Styrofoam Usage


By Lily Makhlouf

In a room filled with student government leaders and student environmental leaders, a bill was passed unanimously by the Ramapo College Student Government Association (SGA) on January 29 to ban the purchase and usage of Styrofoam products within its organization. The success of Bill 2018-01, introduced and proposed by SGA Senator Ryan Greff, signals a great step forward for Ramapo College’s ongoing efforts to properly regulate and reduce campus waste.

 The bill prohibits “the direct purchase and direct usage of all Styrofoam products” by SGA and its body of members. This legislature marks the first time the SGA has taken measures to regulate Styrofoam purchase and use.

Styrofoam, the colloquial term for polystyrene products made by Dow Chemical Company, is made of styrene, a potential carcinogen, according to the Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Acute exposure can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract. Long term, chronic exposure can also lead to problems related to the nervous system and kidneys. People who work in polystyrene manufacturing are at high risk of exposure, however consumers of these products are also at risk of exposure to chemicals in the product.

Polystyrene products are problematic for the environment as well. While some recycling companies accept Styrofoam through special programs, many will not recycle it. Contamination from food, drink, and other materials often prevents Styrofoam from being recycled, so the product ends up in the trash where it makes up 30% of total landfill volume. State and local government’s have decided to act on this issue by creating restrictions on usage of polystyrene products. Cities in several states including New York, California, and Massachusetts have passed legislation banning polystyrene products within businesses and public spaces.

When asked why he chose to push forward with this bill, Greff, a finance major, stated, “I was inspired to regulate the use of the material due to the long term economic impacts from the disposal of Styrofoam. This could eventually cause the cost of living to be higher for people, including graduated Ramapo College students. Furthermore, Styrofoam presents a big danger to plant and animal life. I spent a great deal of time in the outdoors as an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. As a result, I grew to appreciate nature. Therefore, I thought it was best to stop SGA's monetary transactions and uses that would go to supporting the Styrofoam industry.”

In terms of SGA’s budget, Greff said that “each year the SGA spends roughly $50,000 on large events and activities (ex: Founder's Day) put on for the entire campus. Prohibiting the purchase and direct use of Styrofoam for these kinds of events would be a great way to protect the planet. With the bill passed, roughly $1,000,000 has the potential to be used in a more environmentally friendly manner over the course of the next 20 years.”

Ryan Greff has been working closely with members of the President’s Committee on Campus Sustainability to help improve Ramapo College’s progress in sustainability. In the Fall Semester of 2017, he, along with student environmental advocates were successful in passing a bill that regulates proper recycling in SGA funded events with organizations across campus. This legislature comes at a time of pressing concern regarding the environment. Improper waste disposal and consumption of environmentally detrimental products are major contributions to environmental issues.

Ramapo College is working towards a zero waste goal in sustainability—one that aims to inform and educate its community on waste reduction and conscious consumption. While this process is certainly a great undertaking, victories, like the regulation of Styrofoam, are moving the college closer to its goal. If this legislation proves to be a positive feat, the plan is that it will later expand to encompass a greater circle of organizations across campus.


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