Massapequa Split on Plastic-Foam Container Ban

Environmentalists have been critical of plastic-foam food containers for decades, now there's a proposal from New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg to to ban the packaging.

When we asked Massapequa Patch readers if they would support a statewide ban, there was a split that seemed to center on personal freedoms as opposed to environmental concerns.

"I hate the fact that Mayor Bloomberg aka Nanny Bloomberg, has this desire to control my life," said Susan Vendikos Gill in a comment on the Massapequa Patch Facebook page.  "He does NOT know better than me about what I should use or drink or smoke."

But Diana Hibbard LoCascio agrees with the mayor saying, "It is about time we ban them. We need to take better care of our planet."

Gill acknowledged there are issues with the containers saying, "I don't like Styrofoam because when I was in college my archeology professor made a point of telling us that long after we are all gone, the Styrofoam cup we were drinking coffee from would still be here," but added that while she avoids using Styrofoam, " I do not want the mayor or anyone else in political office telling me that I can't."

When we asked about the possibility of a statewide ban, one commenter who supported the ban, did think of one use for Styrofoam.

"I do believe we should ban Styrofoam. It lives longer than any one of us." said the commenter, who goes by the handle of Concerned Long Islander. H"owever, it seems to have a true beneficial use in house foundation walls. I've seen it used on many home improvement shows and always wonder why we don't see it here on Long Island."