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PJ Wants To Ban Styrofoam 'Tapau' Boxes. Support?

It seems like Petaling Jaya is moving towards a greener lifestyle with a suggested ban on polystyrene food containers. As a Petaling Jaya citizen myself, the first thing I want to know is will my "nasi campur" hawkers charge me extra when they switch to more environmentally-friendly "tapau" boxes?

By Mei Mei Chu — 10 Jul 2013, 05:18 PM — Updated over 11 years ago

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Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya is drafting a ban on polystyrene food containers

Petaling Jaya wants to ban styrofoam boxes that carry our favourite 'tapau' food.

Image via akamaihd.net

TAKEAWAY meals packed in polystyrene food containers may soon be a thing of the past in the city. The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is pushing for a ban on the containers.

Councillor Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainudin, the city’s low carbon green city secretariat chairman, said MBPJ has drafted a three-year action plan on this matter and hopes to embark on it this year. He said more details will be made known in a press conference soon.

This plan was modeled after Penang's 1st Dec 2012 ban on polystyrene containers

This plan was modeled after Penang's 1st Dec 2012 ban on polystyrene containers. Image from The Star.

Image via fbcdn.net

Council one-stop centre unit head Lee Lih Shyan said the plan was modeled after that of a municipal council in Penang.

"We are now looking into aspects such as legal requirements, and the culture and habits of consumers," said Lee.

Penang ban the use of polystyrene containers from December 1 2012. This ban will be strictly enforced from December 1 and any business found flouting it will face serious consequences.

Penang's ban applies to all businesses, no exceptions; so for hypermarkets they are not allowed to use polystyrene containers for packing of raw or cooked food items too.

What is wrong with polystyrene food containers?

Image via newenergyandfuel.com

What is wrong with polystyrene food containers?

Image via hkcleanup.org

Also known as Styrofoam, polystyrene foam is the worst of the packaging offenders. It’s made of non-renewable petroleum and once manufactured, it’s not biodegradable.

As soon as polystyrene is contaminated by food (like crumbs or grease from your french fries) it is no longer recyclable, and very few recycling facilities accept it even when it’s clean.

Polystyrene contains the toxic substances Styrene and Benzene, suspected carcinogens and neurotoxins that are hazardous to humans. Hot foods and liquids actually start a partial breakdown of the Styrofoam, causing some toxins to be absorbed into our bloodstream and tissue.

It takes at least 500 years to decompose. When polystyrene is sent to the landfill, it is quickly covered and this process deprives it of water and oxygen, which would normally help it to break down.

If it is so harmful, why have we been using polystyrene food containers all these while?

If it's so harmful, why have we been using polystyrene food containers all these while?

Image via flickr.com

It's lightweight. Transporting this material costs less in freight. According to AmercianChemistry.com, this material actually takes less energy to create than corrugated paper cardboard products.

It helps to regulate food temperatures. Those yummy leftovers from the restaurant are kept warm or cold in a cozy foam covering. It proves to be a sturdy material in lieu of paper plates.