To: Maui County Council
From: Brooke Porter, Conservation Director Pacific Whale Foundation
Re: No. 09-165. Polystyrene Ban
Date: October 12, 2009
My name is Brooke Porter. I am the Conservation Director for Pacific Whale
Foundation, a Maui-based nonprofit dedicated to marine education, conservation and
research founded in 1980. I represent the Pacific Whale Foundation and our 250,000
active supporters and members. Thank you to County Council for allowing me the
opportunity to speak on the proposed polystyrene ban.
Pacific Whale Foundation long ago recognized the threat that polystyrene and other
plastics pose to the marine realm. I am proud to say that Pacific Whale Foundation has
been utilizing biocompostable products on all of our eco-tour vessels since 2006. Brining
in a new product to the islands can be somewhat costly, although the popularity of the
items has significantly reduced the price to a competitive level. When considering the
environmental cost of disposing a polystyrene product, there is truly no comparison.
Polystyrene like other plastics DOES NOT BIODEGRADE. Polystyrenes break into
smaller and smaller pieces contaminating marine ecosystems on a molecular level
(Ehrenberg, 2009).
While invisible to the naked eye, these molecular sized particles, polystyrene bits are the
size of picoplankton -- classified at a size range of 0.2 – 2.0 micro meters; (as a
comparison a strand of human hair is about 40-50 micrometers). Kach & Ward (2008)
used polystyrene beads to replicate bivalve and gastropod feeding on picoplankton. The
results showed that picoplankton sized particles, in this case polystyrene beads
specifically, are a food source to filter feeding marine organisms.
In addition to being consumed by marine organisms, microscopic bits of polystyrene and
other plastics as bio-accumulators of hydrophobic toxins (Mato et al., 2001) such as
PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyl’s). Filter feeding organisms create the base of the food
chain, our marine food chain and these toxins will move up, increasing in concentrations,
through the food chain. Ecosystem management is critical.
It is imperative that the Council continues to aggressively address preventable threats to
the marine environment. According to a study posted on the NOAA Economics of
Tourism website, Hawaii’s coral reefs are valued at over $10 billion dollars (Cesar et al.,
2002) providing over $360 million in annual revenue. Considering commerce and human
health, the marine ecosystems are a resource worth protecting. The proposed bill to ban
polystyrene is a step towards ecosystem management.
Pacific Whale Foundation further petitions that Maui County provide an industrial
compost facility so that the many tons of compostable foodservice disposables already in
use can be diverted from our landfills. In conclusion, Pacific Whale Foundation applauds
Council Member Victorino and is in full support of the proposed bill to ban polystyrene.
References:
Cesar, H., P. van Beukering, S. Pintz, and J. Dierking. (2002) Economic valuation of
Hawaiian reefs. Cesar Environment Economics Consulting, Arnham, The Netherlands,
123 pp.
Ehrenberg, R. (2009) Styrofoam degrades in seawater, leaving tiny contaminants behind.
Science News Vol 176(6).
Kach, D.J. & J.E. Ward. (2008) The role marine aggregates in the ingestion of
picoplankton-size particles by suspension feeding mollusks. Marine Biology Vol 153(5):
797-805.
Mato, Y., T. Isobe, H. Takada, H. Kanehiro, C. Ohtake, and T. Kaminuma. (2001) Plastic
Resin Pellets as a Transport Medium for Toxic Chemicals in the Marine Environment.
Environ. Sci. Technol. 35: 318-324.