Ban food-grade foam boxes?

It makes sense that Honolulu leaders, being the stewards of an island community, ought to take up the issue of the ubiquitous foam boxes, those packages that contain everything from plate lunches to take-home leftovers from favorite restaurants.

They are a convenience, to be sure, and one that contains myriad liquids and sauces fairly neatly. But the polystyrene does not decompose in the landfill, toxic chemicals can leach out of it, it’s made from fossil fuels … the demerit list goes on and on.

The proposal to ban them, now before the City Council, has precedence in other cities that have decided that other products could replace the foam boxes. Nobody’s saying we can’t have our Styrofoam cups, but the boxes? We should at least contemplate life without them.

Prison partition has pros and cons

Installing a partition to separate inmates from their visitors is better than keeping loved ones apart altogether — which was the result when prisons routinely canceled visiting days because of short staffing.

Fewer guards are needed in the new layout, which allows inmates to talk to visitors through a window or screen. It’s unfortunate that there is no physical contact, including hugs or sweet caresses, but that lack of interaction also should limit the amount of contraband flowing into the facility.

Proper screening of those entering the prison — visitors and guards alike — could restore closer family time.

But the core problem remains that too many prison guards call in sick when they should be working; that persistent problem must be solved.