The City Council yesterday held a hearing on what to do with Styrofoam packaging, which isn't biodegradable. One measure, backed by Mayor Bloomberg, would ban it from city restaurants, the other would recycle it. A major Styrofoam manufacturer even offered to pay for recycling, although the company that handles recycling for the city isn't crazy about the idea. After lobbying by the Styrofoam company, the ban was softened. Councilman Lew Fidler, the bill's sponsor, inserted language that would postpone a ban for a year in order to give recycling a try, even though he thinks it's just a fantasy. Places like San Francisco have already successfully initiated a ban.

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