The following was submitted by the Westford League of Women Voters. To submit your own content, e-mail asylvia@westfordcat.org
One of the issues voters will decide at Annual Town Meeting on April 2 is whether the town bylaws should be changed to ban polystyrene food containers.  Article 20 on the warrant is there by citizen petition. If passed, the bylaw would ban the use of polystyrene food containers “for serving or transporting prepared, ready-to-consume food or beverages.” This ban would apply to the town as well as any businesses who are operating under a permit from the town.
The goal of the ban is to reduce the amount of polystyrene that is thrown out each year. Â Expanded polystyrene foam (known by its trademark name as Styrofoam) is not biodegradable nor is it practical to recycle. It takes up a significant volume of our trash and can persist in landfills indefinitely.
The LWV has strong environmental positions at both the state and national level. Â They include the need to reduce the generation of waste where possible. Â Based on these positions, the Westford LWV is supporting Article 20 and encourages you to attend town meeting and vote in favor of this bylaw change. Â Westford has shown a continued commitment to becoming a greener community. Â We believe this bylaw change is a practical step our community can take towards a more sustainable future.
