BROOKLINE, Mass. (WHDH) -- Residents of Brookline voted to bar eating establishments in town from using Styrofoam beverage cups and takeout food containers.

Town Meeting in the Boston suburb on Tuesday voted 169-27 to bar the use of polystyrene foam, commonly known by the brand name Styrofoam, by December 2013.

That means, if it is approved by the attorney general’s office places like Dunkin Donuts will have to use paper cups.

“It’s starting at a small place, but it makes the point that we need to take care of our environment just as we don’t want to leave our children with mounds of debt, we also don’t want to leave them with mounds of waste and plastic and clean up costs in the future,” said Nancy Heller, advisory committee.

7News found that many places in Brookline already use a lot of paper containers, but the new ban seems to be popular.

“I absolutely agree it’s a good idea. I think it will help with the recycling. I think that’s the worst recycling material,” said one woman.

Supporters say the ban will cut down on trash and keep the foam products, which take years to break down, out of landfills.

“I think it’s a great cause. I think it’s bad for the environment and we should try to use materials that are better for the environment,” said a woman.

Others say differently.

“I think it’s silly, just silly,” said a woman.

Some argue it is going to cost local businesses a lot of money to change to paper products.

“It’s going a little too far. A little too radical, a radical approach right there,” said a man.

“There’s a lot of bad things for the environment, but why start there?” said a man.

Several other communities nationwide have barred the use of polystyrene, including Great Barrington. Amherst is also considering a ban.

The town isn’t stopping with Styrofoam. At Wednesday’s town meeting they voted to ban plastic bags in stores which will go into effect December of 2013.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.