In 1988, Portland, Oregon passed an ordinance to phase out the use of polystyrene, or foam, for use in paper plates and cups. But according to the Cascade Policy Institute, this ban has proven to be anything but an environmental success story. Comments CPI spokesman John Charles: “The ban on polystyrene was not well-thought through. After nearly two decades, not only are the costs to regulate it extremely expensive, but the alternatives do not hold heat and have their own adverse environmental impacts. As one Portland-based wholesale distributor said, ‘We sell a product that costs two-and-a half times as much, doesn’t have the same insulation value and ends up in the same landfill.’ Portland would be wise to overturn this misguided ban.”