Oswego is joining the ban on styrofoam that has been spreading throughout cities and states around the country.

Oswego Mayor Billy Barlow recently announced his “Keep Oswego Clean” Initiative, a plan intended to protect the environment and keep the city clean. Among some of the proposals outlined in Barlow’s initiative was a ban on the sale and use of styrofoam within city limits. 

“Styrofoam cannot be recycled, it just sits in landfills, so it’s a great opportunity for people to look for more environmentally friendly alternatives,” said Katherine Spector, campus sustainability manager of Oswego State’s Office of Sustainability. 

The purpose of Oswego’s Office of Sustainability is to integrate sustainability into everything that is done across campus.  

“I think it’s a pretty awesome initiative, its necessary for us to all be responsible with our waste and using styrofoam is irresponsible of all of us,” Spector said.

Some local restaurants in the Oswego area are preparing for the ban by ordering to-go products made out of paper materials.

 “They cost twice as much, but it’s just part of doing business,” Larry Klotzko, owner of Old City Hall a restaurant located on Water street, said. “It’s like when taxes go up, you know, pay or die.”

Klotzko supports the ban on styrofoam but he thinks there are more important things the city should be focusing on. 

“I think it’s very nice that people are going to stop polluting and littering, but for instance, people are putting raw sewage in the storm water on East Fourth Street. Maybe that would be a bigger issue for them to look into.” Klotzko said.  

Other local restaurants are not too worried about the ban. 

“The only thing we have right now that is made out of styrofoam are our coffee cups and we could change to anything else,” said Beth Green, manager at the Oswego Sub Shop located on West Bridge Street. 

Green showed her support for the ban on styrofoam, but she wonders what the city plans on using to replace the material. 

“I know that when you burn the stuff it lets off toxins and things that aren’t good for people, and it’s just not good for the environment,” Green said. “Of course, plastic isn’t much better. So, I don’t know what they’re really gonna do, but I guess you have to start somewhere.” 

The Oswego Common Council will procced with Barlow’s initative, a public hearing on the proposal will be held on Monday, Oct. 28.

Photo by felixgeronimo1 via Pixabay