Students Speak Out Against Polystyrene

The Daily Pilot, which serves Costa Mesa and Newport Beach has an article about local students who are joining together to try to make a difference in their community.

Like many of the other students in Scott Morlan’s surfing and environmental class at Newport Harbor High School, senior Brandon Guzman enjoys the mornings he and his classmates get to spend on the beach trying to catch waves — but the experience is often marred by the Styrofoam coffee cups and takeout boxes he sees bobbing in the water while paddling out.

“You can actually see Styrofoam floating around out there,” he said. “It’s such a big problem.”

Guzman and the other students from Morlan’s class want to start a citywide ban on polystyrene foam products at Newport eateries. The students gathered on the beach near Newport Pier this morning brandishing homemade signs detailing how non-biodegradable products harm local beaches.

“How can we let our local beaches that our city has so much pride in be covered with trash?” said Newport Harbor freshman Ariel Kusby. “It’s really a moral issue.”