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QUEENS WEEKLY, DEC. 16, 2018
Shelter
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multiple calls and emails
requesting comment on
the matter.
The rumor came amid
an ongoing battle between
College Point residents
and the city over a proposed
homeless shelter in
the neighborhood. Residents
have held two rallies
against the proposal, and
are in the process of suing
the city to stop it.
Carlotta Mohamed and
Robert Pozarycki contributed
to this report.
Reach reporter Mark
Hallum by e-mail at mhallum@
cnglocal.com or by
phone at (718) 260–4564.
Styrofoam
and manufacturers may
not possess, sell, or offer
for use single-service Expanded
Polystyrene (EPS)
foam food service articles
or loose fill packaging.”
The law will apply to
businesses within New
York City’s five boroughs
using foam takeout containers,
cups, packing
peanuts, plates, bowls,
and trays.
Exceptions include EPS
containers used for prepackaged
food that have
been filled and sealed prior
to receipt by the business,
and EPS containers
used to store raw meat,
pork, fish, seafood, or
poultry sold from a butcher
case or similar retail
appliance. Foam blocks
used as protective packaging
in shipping are not
covered under this law.
The law was established
because Styrofoam poses
an environmental threat,
since it cannot be recycled
or broken down in landfills,
according to the New
York City Department of
Sanitation.
During organic waste
collection, Styrofoam can
break down into smaller
pieces that contaminate
organic waste, making it
unusable for composting
or reuse.
There will be a sixmonth
grace period beginning
Jan. 1, 2019, for businesses
to find alternative
forms of packaging before
fines will be imposed.
Under Local Law 142,
for the first violation, the
fine will be $250; for the
second violation within
12 months, the fine will be
$500; and, for the third and
each subsequent violation
within twelve months, the
fine will be $1,000.
“Many food establishments
in Flushing rely
heavily on customers who
carry out their food. It is
very important for these
businesses to be informed
of this law so they can
quickly work to find alternative
ways to package
their food and continue on
with their business,” said
Sunny Sun, vice president
of the New York Chinese
Business Association.
Alternative packaging
options include aluminum,
rigid plastics, uncoated
paper, glass, and
compostable items.
Small businesses with
less than $500,000 in gross
income for the most recent
tax year and nonprofits
may apply for hardship
exemptions from the New
York City Department of
Small Business Services
(SBS) if they can prove
that the purchase of alternative
products not composed
of EPS would create
a financial hardship. SBS
is currently accepting applications
for polystyrene
foam hardship waivers.
To access the application,
visit www.nyc.gov/
foamwaiver.
“We urge local busi-
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Photo via Wikimedia Commons
nesses to educate themselves
about this new law
to avoid the thousands of
dollars in fines that may
accrue when the NYC Department
of Sanitation
begins to issue violation
notices,” said Taehoon
Kim, president of the
Greater Flushing Chamber
of Commerce. “For
the many small businesses
that will experience
hardship because of
this new law, we encourage
you to apply for a
one-year waiver from the
NYC Department of Small
Business Services.”
To learn more, visit
www.nyc.gov/foamban.
Reach reporter Carlotta
Mohamed by e-mail at cmohamed@
cnglocal.com or
by phone at (718) 260–4526.
Contact the newsroom:
718-260-4545
timesledgernews@cnglocal.com
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