Beginning on June 30th of this year, Restaurants in New York City will be required to get rid of remaining stocks of single-use plastic foam containers. These include takeout containers, packing peanuts, and coffee cups. Some exceptions are being made. Butcher shops that use the containers for keeping raw meat safe, non-profits, and small businesses that can prove a negative effect on their bottom line will be allowed to continue using plastic foam containers.
New York City’s plastic foam ban has been in the works for years. The Foam Ban was originally approved by city lawmakers in 2013, but challenges from the restaurant industry pushed back the implementation of the ban. Last June, a judge approved the ban.
Plastic foam pollution is an increasingly huge issue. In the time it takes you to read this sentence, about 600 kilograms of plastic foam will have been thrown away. Much of this foam is not recycled and ends up in landfills.
Businesses that do not comply with the ban may receive fines of up to $1,000 per offense.
