Put an end to toxic dock foam

to the wildlife that eats it. It gets into the fish we eat, and it contaminates our drinking water.

If that weren’t bad enough, polystyrene is made from fossil fuels, which means it is contributing to the climate crisis from the moment it is manufactured. Finally, the toxic chemicals used to make Styrofoam can leach out into our waters.

many dock manufacturers no longer sell that product.

When these older foam blocks break down, or the tiny loose beads spill out, it is nearly impossible to collect all the pieces. That means we are stuck with that pollution — and the risks it poses to our environment, wildlife and human health — for decades to come.

It’s time to put an end to this pollution, and Vermont’s Legislature has taken notice.

to prevent polystyrene foam from leaking and disintegrating into the water. And any existing unencapsulated foam and loose-bead foam floats would need to be removed and properly disposed of within two years after the bill’s passage.

banned most polystyrene food and beverage containers, which is already having an impact on this scourge of pollution. It’s time to take the next step and ban this toxic pollution from docks as well.

Let’s be clear, docks are not the problem, it’s the plastic foam. The docks that pollute our lakes and rivers use exposed foam blocks (called “unencapsulated foam”) or floats filled with loose white foam beads.

Docks with unencapsulated foam are likely older or abandoned, as

A new bill, H.373 — supported by the Conservation Law Foundation and other advocacy organizations, including the Lake Champlain Committee and the Connecticut River Conservancy — has been introduced. It would prohibit the sale of unencapsulated polystyrene foam floatation and loose-bead foamfilled flotation in docks, mooring buoys and other structures on Vermont’s lakes, ponds and rivers.

The bill would also require that docks be maintained and repaired

The problem with polystyrene is that it’s brittle. It easily breaks apart when it’s exposed to the sun, wind, waves and ice. Like other plastic pollution, it also never breaks down or goes away. It keeps accumulating in our waters, in wildlife and on our beaches.

Because of these harmful qualities, Vermonters have already

Five other states have already passed legislation regulating polystyrene foam in floating docks. Let’s make Vermont the sixth, to commit to cleaner healthier water for swimming, fishing, paddling and wildlife.

Before They Get Behind The

Make sure they understand the risks of drunk and drugged driving. Let

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