WAYLAND - New rules restricting the use polystyrene and plastic bags go into effect next month.
The measures, approved by Town Meeting last year, take effect Feb. 4.
Wayland is among dozens of other Massachusetts communities that have restricted the use of at least one of the products, which environmentalists worry are discarded as litter, harm wildlife and have other effects.
THE DETAILS: The polystyrene bylaw bans use of the product only for single-use containers, utensils, cups and other items used with prepared food and beverages at places such as restaurants. It can continue to be used for raw food such as meats in a grocery store.
The plastic bag bylaw prohibits stores from using thin-film plastic bags such as those customers receive at checkout counters. Thin-film plastic bags used for products such as newspapers, dry cleaning and produce will still be acceptable.
Businesses can seek temporary waivers from having to initially meet the requirements.
WHY: Polystyrene, which is commonly known by the trademarked name Styrofoam, and plastic bags may end up in the ocean or other waterways, harming fish and other creatures. And, supporters of the polystyrene measure worry about the health effects of consuming elements in the polystyrene that leach into food and drink.
ALTERNATIVES: Stores can offer recyclable paper bags that contain at least 40 percent post-consumer recycled content as well as reusable bags. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils thick. A mil is equal to 1,000th of an inch.
"We believe all merchants will offer paper. The real answer from an environmental standpoint is to get people to bring their own bags so we're not creating litter of any kind," said Paul Dale, a member of Transition Wayland who brought the measures before Town Meeting.
People can wash reusable bags if they get dirty and they are stronger than paper and plastic. Dale recommended people leave a reminder in their cars to take their reusable bags with them.
There are paper and plastic alternatives to polystyrene. And, Dale encourages businesses to sell reusable drink containers and people to bring them when they visit.
More information about both measures is available at www.wayland.ma.us under the Health Department page.
Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.