#HTE

Boston Suburb Un-Bans Styrofoam, to Help Social Distancing Restaurants Do Takeout and Delivery

As an unexpected reaction to COVID-19, a Boston suburb has lifted a six-year-old ban on Styrofoam.

Like many of you, I saw encouraging stories in the news detailing how countries in COVID-19 lockdown, like China and Italy, saw improved air quality. With travel down in the U.S., I reckon we’ll see the same.

On the other hand, I was surprised to read that municipal officials of Brookline, Massachusetts, in an effort to boost social distancing, recently lifted their 2013 Styrofoam ban “to ease the burden these restrictions place on restaurants and eateries.”

I guess given the circumstances it makes sense; it’s just a surprising twist I didn’t see coming, and I wonder if it’s an indicator of what’s to come. As social distancing becomes the new norm, restaurants will be moving a lot of takeout food, and sadly Styrofoam is still the cheapest choice of container.