Brookline: Plastic not so fantastic

Brookline businesses are gearing up for bans on plastic bags and disposable polystyrene food and beverage containers that take effect Dec. 1.

Public Health Commissioner Alan Balsam expects a wave of applications for six-month waivers, in particular for the polystyrene ban that will affect 350-plus food-service operations.

"People want to comply, but it's going to take a little time," Balsam said. "I wouldn't be surprised to see dozens of waivers, and the reason is they haven't found a substitute for what they're using, or they have a large inventory (of their current containers or bags) to get rid of."

Town Meeting approved both bans in November. The town won't start enforcing them until January and will start with education and warnings first instead of fines that ultimately will be $50 per "offense," a term that has yet to defined.

"We don't want to make fines onerous, but we want them to be sufficient to ensure everybody complies," Balsam said. "We're willing to work with people to get compliance in a way that doesn't murder their business."

The town offered three polystyrene training sessions on Monday where it had on hand acceptable alternative containers from about a dozen vendors.

"I think in terms of the theory behind this, most people understand and embrace it, but they need more time to find the appropriate replacements and to work it into their budgets, because it is more expensive," Balsam said.

Anna's Taqueria, which has two Brookline restaurants, plans to work that added expense into the price of its Mexican plate, according to owner Mike Kamio.

It's replacing its polystyrene containers used for that menu item with a bamboo-based tray and will have new 8-ounce containers for other items.

"It is substantially more expensive," Kamio said. "As other things pop up, we may switch over to other things that are more cost-effective."

Dunkin' Donuts formulated a new cup for its Brookline stores, but has asked for a waiver until it finds a suitable lid, according to Balsam.

Meanwhile, about 70 Brookline supermarkets, drugstores and other businesses must eliminate plastic bags that aren't compostable and marine degradable. "Come to find out, there is not a commercially available (plastic) bag that meets that criteria now in the United States," Balsam said.

Brookline Booksmith will use paper bags that are about a third more expensive than the plastic ones now used. "It's a significant expense, but we understand it's the right thing to do environmentally ... so it will become part of the cost of doing business," manager and co-owner Dana Brigham said.

Stop & Shop and Shaw's also will meet the deadline by using paper bags.

"We'll also be encouraging and selling reusable bags," Shaw's spokesman Steve Sylven said.

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