An article that was recently published in the Tri-Town News, “Howell and Jackson Receive Grants to Clean Up Litter” reminded readers that our local waterways are polluted.
Unfortunately, our economy encourages us to make, use and toss trash at the greatest possible speed. Often, we do not think about getting our coffee to go in a foam cup, or food in a foam takeout container.
Currently, 70 million plastic foam cups are estimated to be disposed by Americans every day. Of these, about one-third end up in waterways: rivers, lakes and especially oceans.
Our wasteful behavior has environmental consequences that pose major problems for not only future generations, but our present generation. It is important to change the culture surrounding our plastic use.
Cleaning up the trash that currently pollutes our planet is only one side of the coin. To protect our wildlife and our waterways, we need to dramatically reduce our plastic waste and we can start by banning foam cups and takeout containers here in New Jersey.
Fortunately, the process to make a greener planet has begun. For example, last week the Senate voted to ban polystyrene in schools in New Jersey with a bipartisan majority of 37-1.
However, there are still major steps that need to be taken to make our environment a cleaner, more hospitable place. Ending the use of harmful polystyrene in New Jersey can help us protect our oceans, lakes and rivers, and the wildlife that inhabits them.
To help this problem, I encourage the public to call their legislators and urge them to support a full statewide ban on polystyrene.
Jeremy Brent
South Brunswick
