Fort Myers Beach will look into regulating the use of styrofoam

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.- Could Styrofoam be banned on Fort Myers Beach?

It’s happening in other cities around Florida and now town leaders are considering the option here. Only WINK News looked at the impact such a change could have on local business.

“It’s disheartening to see our roads getting littered and our waterways getting effected in a negative way,” said Julia Boese.

Boese is hoping Fort Myers Beach becomes the first community on the west coast of Florida to regulate Styrofoam containers.

“It’s pretty harmful material to our wildlife. It gets littered a lot, caught in the mangroves and waterways,” said Boese.

Boese sent WINK News pictures of Styrofoam littered on the beach. She says the material takes hundreds of thousands of years to decompose and the negative effects are seen immediately.

“It’s not readily recyclable. There is better materials out there we can use for businesses.”

“Obviously, if it takes that long to break down, it’s not good,” said Frankie Gatica.

Nemos on the Beach is one business that would have to make changes if Styrofoam is regulated.

“We wouldn’t be against not using Styrofoam, if it was something that was adequate and cost wise was better for us,” said Gatica.

Six cities on Florida’s east coast have adopted no Styrofoam ordinances. For example, you risk getting fined, if you bring Styrofoam cups or coolers on Hallandale Beach and on Miami Beach, there is no Styrofoam allowed at the parks or at sidewalk cafes.

Fort Myers Beach town council agreed to discuss the possible Styrofoam ban at another meeting.