Latest news with #StyrofoamBan
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
States where fast food could get a lot more expensive due to new law
Ten states and the District of Columbia have banned a popular fast food to-go container that could mean takeouts are about to get more expensive for customers. Earlier this week, Delaware joined the cohort of states and the capital that have banned Styrofoam containers in the fast food industry. The restaurant industry has often leaned on the white, creaky material because it insulated food for roughly 14 cents per container, compared to a biodegradable option that typically runs for around 25 cents. 'It could be something that affects us when it comes to pricing [of our food],' Ezell Barnes, who owns a Delaware food truck called Zoagies, told Delaware Online. 'We already exist on razor-thin profit margins.' CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association, Carrie Leishman, said the new ban could largely affect small businesses and potentially run them into the ground. 'The stain which this could place on a small business could end so many of them,' she told the outlet. 'What this bill really impacts is equity in the restaurant business,' she said. 'The impact upon our local ethnic minority communities, given its effects on these small restaurants, will be incredibly damaging.' CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association, Carrie Leishman, said the new ban could largely affect small businesses and potentially run them into the ground The Delaware ban follows that of California, Oregon, and Rhode Island, which outlawed the material January 1, 2025. The first US state to ban the product was Maine in January 2021 However Leishman noted that 'most of Delaware's restaurants were already in compliance' with the law. The Delaware ban follows that of California, Oregon, and Rhode Island, which outlawed the material January 1, 2025. The first US state to ban the product was Maine in January 2021. The law was signed in 2019 by Governor Janet Mills, but didn't go into effect until 2021. The Delaware bill was signed in 2022, but went into effect on Tuesday. 'Polystyrene cannot be recycled like a lot of other products, so while that cup of coffee may be finished, the Styrofoam cup it was in is not,' Mill said in 2019. 'In fact, it will be around for decades to come and eventually it will break down into particles, polluting our environment, hurting our wildlife, and even detrimentally impacting our economy.' New York also signed its law in 2019 under former Governor Andrew Cuomo. It went into effect in 2022. A 2024 waste study by the Department of Sanitation in New York City showed that polystyrene - what Styrofoam is made of - decreased 54 percent by weight between 2017 and 2023. It is feared that the ban will impact small businesses like food trucks the most The containers are popular for containing a variety of takeout food The Empire State was one of the first states to ban plastic bags in March 2020, seeing a decrease of 67 percent between 2017 and 2023, the study found. California was the first to ban plastic bags in 2014 and will enact another law in 2026 prohibiting the sale of 'reusable' plastic bags that are thicker. The Golden State has vowed to cut single-use plastics by 25 percent by 2032 and to recycle 65 percent of what's left. It shift to recycled plastic in the same time frame, according to Cal Recycle. Californians throw out 290 Olympic pool-sized worth of plastic each day. Styrofoam takes 500 years to decompose and it cannot be recycled, like glass and certain types of plastic. The material also leaks large amounts of ozone in the atmosphere, which causes environmental and respiratory issues, according to Colgate University. Styrofoam is estimated to take up roughly 30 percent of the US' landfills, with around 5billion pounds of it, according to Heal The Planet.
Daily Mail
05-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Delaware law change could drive up fast food prices
Ten states and the District of Columbia have banned a popular fast food to-go container that could mean takeouts are about to get more expensive for customers. Earlier this week, Delaware joined the cohort of states and the capital that have banned Styrofoam containers in the fast food industry. The restaurant industry has often leaned on the white, creaky material because it insulated food for roughly 14 cents per container, compared to a biodegradable option that typically runs for around 25 cents. 'It could be something that affects us when it comes to pricing [of our food],' Ezell Barnes, who owns a Delaware food truck called Zoagies, told Delaware Online. 'We already exist on razor-thin profit margins.' CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association, Carrie Leishman, said the new ban could largely affect small businesses and potentially run them into the ground. 'The stain which this could place on a small business could end so many of them,' she told the outlet. The Delaware ban follows that of California, Oregon, and Rhode Island, which outlawed the material January 1, 2025. The first US state to ban the product was Maine in January 2021. The law was signed in 2019 by Governor Janet Mills, but didn't go into effect until 2021. The Delaware bill was signed in 2022, but went into effect on Tuesday. 'Polystyrene cannot be recycled like a lot of other products, so while that cup of coffee may be finished, the Styrofoam cup it was in is not,' Mill said in 2019. 'In fact, it will be around for decades to come and eventually it will break down into particles, polluting our environment, hurting our wildlife, and even detrimentally impacting our economy.' New York also signed its law in 2019 under former Governor Andrew Cuomo. It went into effect in 2022. A 2024 waste study by the Department of Sanitation in New York City showed that polystyrene - what Styrofoam is made of - decreased 54 percent by weight between 2017 and 2023. The Empire State was one of the first states to ban plastic bags in March 2020, seeing a decrease of 67 percent between 2017 and 2023, the study found. California was the first to ban plastic bags in 2014 and will enact another law in 2026 prohibiting the sale of 'reusable' plastic bags that are thicker. The Golden State has vowed to cut single-use plastics by 25 percent by 2032 and to recycle 65 percent of what's left. It shift to recycled plastic in the same time frame, according to Cal Recycle. Californians throw out 290 Olympic pool-sized worth of plastic each day. Styrofoam takes 500 years to decompose and it cannot be recycled, like glass and certain types of plastic. The material also leaks large amounts of ozone in the atmosphere, which causes environmental and respiratory issues, according to Colgate University. Styrofoam is estimated to take up roughly 30 percent of the US' landfills, with around 5billion pounds of it, according to Heal The Planet.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Governor sparks criticism with perplexing statement after vetoing public safety bill: 'What he said was wrong'
Governor Greg Gianforte of Montana made a decision that could cause a significant setback in the journey toward sustainable food packaging in the state. As detailed by the Daily Montanan in early May, a video posted on social media showed Gianforte, a Republican, explaining why he vetoed a bill that would have gradually phased out the use of Styrofoam in local food establishments. "This bill would create a new government program costing $300,000," Gianforte said in the video released on May 5, the same day he vetoed the bill. "The state banning Styrofoam is costly government overreach, and, like many Montanans, I enjoy hot coffee in a Styrofoam cup, because it keeps it hot. And this bill is a hot mess." The sponsor of House Bill 477, Representative Marilyn Marler, a Democrat, seemed to indicate to the Daily Montanan that she feels the governor missed the point of the bill to protect the environment and overall human health. "What he said was wrong. He was trying to be bombastic," Marler said. "He put more effort into his silly video than in trying to understand the bill." House Bill 477 would have phased out Styrofoam containers from restaurants and other establishments, banning items such as coffee cups, plates, and trays. In Montana, around 7,500 establishments would have been affected, but the ban would not have been applied to other industries — for example, in medical supply transportation, where a suitable alternative may not be readily available. Despite its popularity, Styrofoam, which is made from polystyrene, may pose health and environmental threats. The material is not recyclable, causing it to end up in landfills before breaking down into microplastics that can pollute the environment and accumulate in our bodies. Styrofoam also contains chemicals that may leach into food and be ingested by wildlife and humans. Leading up to the veto, the bill had bipartisan support. According to the Daily Montanan, it passed 56-44 in the House and 26-24 in the Senate, with all Democrats and a total of 26 Republicans voting for the bill. "I don't think people realize the fact that it leaches into food," Senator Daniel Zolnikov, a Republican, told the local outlet. "Change is hard, but children have these chemicals leaching into their food, and we just know more about that than we used to. It seemed like a logical thing since we've realized how unhealthy it is." Unfortunately, it may be back to the drawing board for those in Montana who were looking forward to this large-scale transition to more sustainable food packaging. Should the government ban gas stoves? Yes Only in new buildings Only in restaurants No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Other states like Oregon, Washington, California, and New York have already taken steps to reduce or ban the use of Styrofoam in the food industry, per the Daily Montanan. These initiatives promote reusable, eco-friendly alternatives likely to be far less harmful to the environment and to human health. But even in places where Styrofoam bans don't currently exist, consumers can try to avoid single-use items that contribute to pollution and potentially harm human health. Many coffee shops will fill to-go mugs from home, for example, and you can consider bringing glass or stainless steel containers to tote leftovers from restaurants. It can also make a difference to support candidates who champion climate-friendly policies and policies focused on a healthier future for all. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
