Letter to the Editor: Protect waterways, wildlife with ban on foam containers

To the Editor:

Your April 19,  2017, story – “Taking aim again at trash, debris along Neponset” – reminded readers that our waterways are under threat from harmful plastic pollution. One of the worst forms of these products is Styrofoam, and Americans throw away an estimated 70 million plastic foam cups and about one-third end up in waterways like rivers, lakes, gulfs, and oceans.

This plastic waste doesn’t biodegrade, but instead breaks down into smaller pieces that continue to pollute our waterways for decades. Dangerous plastic fragments have been found ingested by literally hundreds of different species.

The number of people whom I’ve seen discarding their plastic products onto our streets and  into our waterways is appalling. In order to revitalize our communities, I feel that the banning of such products is paramount; it is no longer a question of convenience; it’s one of necessity.

Let’s protect our waterways and our wildlife by banning foam cups and takeout containers here in Massachusetts.

– Kaleena Preval, Dorchester