PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Board of Health has yet to render a decision on whether Dunkin' Donuts will receive a waiver from the city's polystyrene ban.

Dunkin Brands is asking that its 24-ounce cup lids be exempted from the Styrofoam ban that goes into affect in July.

 

According to Christine Riley Miller, of Dunkin Brands, the company has double-walled paper cups with recyclable lids for the other sizes. However, lids haven't been developed for the largest size the stores offer.

 

"We expect that it will be available within a year," Miller said. "We will transition this cup once we have the full cup and lid."

 

Miller estimates that the extra-large size accounts for some $50,000 in sales a year. Without the exemption, the stores would not be able to sell that size beverage, she said, as is the case in Brookline, where an exception was given but has since expired.

 

"It would be just the lid because that cup is recyclable," Miller said.

 

The Board of Health was asked for the exemption in February but because there wasn't a full board, those in attendance opted to delay until March. On Wednesday, the full board asked Miller to return next week with additional information before rendering a decision.

 

Board of Health member Dominica D'Avella wants Dunkin Brands to show a "significant hardship" for complying with the ban. She wants to see how much money the store would lose by not selling that particular size. Health Director Gina Armstrong also asked what percentage of the sales are those large sizes and how the $50,000 was estimated.

 

Both questions Miller said she'd get answers to and return next week. 

 

D'Avella added that the statute allows an exemption if there are no reasonable alternatives — she asked if there were other reusable options. Miller said there are reusable mugs for sale but usage of those depends on if the customer returns with the mugs. 

 

Dunkin Brands so far has been the only entity to request an exemption. The city voted in October to impose the ban on polystyrene food containers for health and environmental reasons. Locally both Williamstown and Great Barrington have passed similar bans. 

 

Williamstown granted the company an exemption on the larger size.