Laurelhurst
Community Club
Serving 2800 Households in
Mayor Greg Nickels Chuck
Clarke, Director,
600
Re: Recycling Proposal – Why not include
provisions to phase in a ban on plastic “peanuts?”
Dear Mayor Nickels
and Mr. Clarke,
The Laurelhurst Community Club Board of Trustees has reviewed your
proposal to mandate commercial recycling and to ban trashing recyclables by
EPS packaging peanuts are non-biodegradable. They are a nuisance to their recipients and a
source of widespread litter. Although
plastic peanuts can be reused, many escape into our communities, are not reused
and end up in landfills. There are
biodegradable alternatives.
A phased-in ban would provide time to educate the public and the
business community about alternatives to plastic peanuts and to work with the
State for changes at that level. The
City has already made a great start in educating citizens in the Fall 2003 CurbWaste &
Conserve newsletter to postal customers.
The newsletter article lets citizens know that many moving companies and
mailing businesses offer biodegradable cornstarch peanuts and lists other
alternatives. Much more can be done to
educate citizens and the business community to lay the groundwork for an
eventual ban on plastic peanuts.
Thank you for considering our recommendation.
Sincerely,
Jeannie Hale, President
206-525-5135 / fax 206-525-9631
cc: City Councilmembers;
Steve Nicholas, Director, Office of Sustainability; Solid Waste Advisory
Committee members