Lutheran Student Movement-USA

1988

1988-6 RESOLUTION TO END THE USE OF STYROFOAM

WHEREAS, we believe the earth and everything in it is created by God and as being

“created co-creators” we are called to be faithful stewards of God’s creation and care for the environment which God has given us; and

WHERAS, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used in the production of polystyrene foam

(Styrofoam) is damaging to the environment.  Hal Cronkite, city manager of Berkley, states, “Nationally and internationally widely recognized scientific evidence indicate[s] that CFC damages the ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere thereby allowing increased penetration of ultraviolet rays.  Such rays are damaging to humans and the earth’s ecology.”¹ A report released jointly by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and other U.S. and international agencies concluded that “since 1969, the concentration of ozone over the earth’s middle latitudes, including the United states, has dropped 2.3%...The scientist blamed the decline mostly on man-made (sic) pollution, chiefly chlorofluorocarbons, that build up in the stratosphere.”² The possible effects of ozone loss include: skin cancer, crop damage, and damage to ocean plankton.  “Ultraviolet radiation penetrates 60 feet or more into the sea and can kill tine one-celled plants, or phytoplankton, that are the bottom of the food chain for most of the life in the world’s oceans…The implications of this are just enormous because these are the meals that keep the Krill (Antarctic shrimp) alive.  The implication ifs that if anything happens to the phytoplankton, the whole ecosystem will collapse…the fishes, the birds, the penguins, the whales, everything.”³ there are other problems with CFCs.  “CFCs also contribute to the ‘greenhouse effect’ that is raising the earth’s temperature;”⁴ and

WHEREAS, Styrofoam is not biodegradable.  “Inability to degrade and limitations of

being recycled or reused results in polystyrene foam generally ending up either in landfills or littering the environment.  Particular damage has occurred in the marine environment by death being caused to marine life, which ingest thrown away polystyrene foam.”⁵ Landfill space is shrinking.  “Environmentally sound landfill space is precious.  In fact, Vermont has already exceeded its approved landfill l capacity.  The ‘unapproved’ landfills that are being used are operating under ‘assurance of discontinuance’ which will phase out their operation by 1995.  Non-biodegradable products, like polystyrene foam, put the greatest burden on landfill space.”⁶ Polystyrene foam is simply not worth using.  Los Angeles Mayor, Tom Bradley, state that “…a coffee cup made of polystyrene foam that is used for only a few minutes will continue to burden the environment for hundreds of years.  We simply cannot afford to squander our environmental resources in this way, especially at a time when the city is searching for new and better ways to recycle its waste product;”⁷ and

WHEREAS, there are suitable alternatives to Styrofoam.  “Food Packaging manufactured

without CFCs appears to be widely available at little or not cost difference;”⁸ and

WHEREAS, the Dupont corporation, Vermont, Yosemite National Park, and the city

governments of Los Angeles and New York have taken steps to reduce Styrofoam production of use.⁹  The Western sub-region of LSM-PAC-NW has also taken steps to stop the use of Styrofoam at its retreats;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Styrofoam will not be used at LSM-USA

gatherings i.e. national, regional, or local;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that members of LSM-USA make a personal covenant

to avoid the purchase or use of Styrofoam.

Sponsored by: Western sub-region of LSM-PAC-NW

Author: Shari D. Seifert

Endnotes

1. Hal Cronkite, Plastic Takeout Food Packaging, Litter Control, and Waste Reduction

Program and Enabling Ordnance, memo to: Honorable mayor and members of the city council (City of Berkley), June 14, 1988, p. 6.

2. Charles Petit, “New Ozone Report Heightens Concern,” San Francisco Chronicle,

March 17, 1988.

3. Ibid.

4. Staff writer, “Yosemite Won’t Use Styrofoam”, San Francisco Chronicle, March 4,

1988.

5. Cronkite, p. 7.

6. Cronkite, p. 6.

7. George Hamilton, Restricting Styrofoam in the State of Vermont, memo to: interested

people, November 17, 1987.

8. Cronkite, p. 5.

9. Ibid.