MASSPIRG calls for swift action to phaseout PFAS and polystyrene

MASSPIRG’s Executive Director, Janet Domenitz, testified before the state legislative Joint Committee on Public Health on key public health issues facing Baystaters.

Domenitz called for the passage of bills to protect public health by phasing out the use of polystyrene and toxic PFAS.

The two specific bills include:

An Act to Restrict the Use of Polystyrene, H2394 & S1477, filed by: Representative Marjorie Decker and Senator Michael Barrett

For decades, we’ve known that one of the worst forms of plastic pollution is polystyrene foam—better known as Styrofoam. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans throw away an estimated 25 billion polystyrene cups every year, or about 82 cups per person.  Polystyrene doesn’t degrade, is not recyclable, and as a result it clogs our landfills, litters our streets, and pollutes our environment. This bill restricts the sale and use of most single-use polystyrene containers.

Bill Title: An Act to Protect Massachusetts Public Health From PFAS, H2450 & S1504, filed by: Representative Kate Hogan and Senator Julian Cyr

At least 171 public water systems in 96 cities and towns, and many private wells across the Commonwealth have exceeded the state’s legal limit (Maximum Contaminant Level) for PFAS. This bill aims to clean up existing PFAS contamination and prevent future contamination by phasing out PFAS in many consumer products including food packaging, children’s products, fabric treatments, cookware, personal care products, cookware, carpets and rugs, and upholstered furniture; limiting industry discharge of PFAS in ground and surface water; and providing resources for testing and cleanup of PFAS contamination.