Styrofoam containers could be on the hit list for the Red Bank environmental committee.
Members of the Red Bank Environmental Commission discussed dealing with plastic foam containers used by restaurants in the borough, as well as reviving the town’s eco tour and bike lanes, during the July 27 meeting.
“As far as a Styrofoam ban, maybe our first step is to learn more [about] who is using it and what we can actually recycle,” said Frank Corrade of the Red Bank Environmental Commission.
According to Kate Triggiano, a member of the commission, the reason why many restaurants use plastic foam containers is because of how cheap they are compared to normal plastic ones.
“The problem is you go to Restaurant Depot and, honestly, the Styrofoam is the cheapest and is pushed almost at you,” she said.
New York City placed a ban on plastic foam that went into effect on July 1, a move that Triggiano feels would benefit the local community.
“If there was no benefit to it, then why would New York City do it?” she asked.
“Rather than try to be the enemy on this, we can try to be proactive and educate people,” Corrade added.
Also discussed at the meeting was the borough’s upcoming eco tour on Sept. 26, which familiarizes residents with more environmentally friendly lifestyles.
“Basically it’s a tour throughout Red Bank of different homes and citizens that have various eco components,” Corrade said.
Last year, according to Corrade, the tour included urban beekeeping, solar panels and composting.
“It was a way for people to go out and see how other residents in town did it. You have people who are willing to talk about their experience and what they did and how they did it,” he said.
“A lot of environmental stuff could be very intimidating to get started on your own, especially when you’re going off of rumors,” Triggiano added. “Unless you know someone personally or know someone to have the conversation with, even setting a rain barrel could be intimidating.”
The eco tour, which started in the borough last year, was a success that the committee is looking to build upon. Other towns in the area, such as Tinton Falls, are expected to participate in this year’s event.
Corrade said more information about the event will be discussed at the next Environmental Commission meeting, set for 7 p.m. on Aug. 11.