Technological watch
New York City Official Enforced Styrofoam Ban Starting July 1, 2019
New York City has official enforced its ban on styrofoam beginning July 1, 2109. In accordance with Local Law 142 of 2013, the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) determined that post-consumer, single-service foam food and beverage containers made of styrofoam, also known as polystyrene, cannot be recycled in a manner that is economically feasible, environmentally effective, and safe in the City’s curbside recycling program.
As announced earlier this year, on January 1, 2019, New York City outlawed the material from stores, food service establishments, and mobile food commissaries.
As a result of the ban, manufacturers and stores may not sell or offer single-use foam items such as cups, plates, trays, or clamshell containers in the City. The sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging, such as “packing peanuts” is also banned. And, businesses were given a six-month transition period before the crackdown began.
Promoting Use of Recyclable Alternatives
“New York City’s ban on styrofoam is long overdue, and New Yorkers are ready to start using recyclable alternatives. There’s no reason to continue allowing this environmentally unfriendly substance to flood our streets, landfills, and waterways,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"Single use styrofoam food containers and packing peanuts clog our waterways, litter our streets, and poison our planet. These products are bad for the environment — and that means they’re bad for New Yorkers,” State Senator Brian Kavanagh said. “With this ban, New York City will leave behind a record of innovative environmental protections — instead of tons of non-biodegradable styrofoam waste. I’d like to congratulate Mayor de Blasio on this legal victory and thank the Mayor, Sanitation Commissioner Garcia, the advocates who have worked on this issue, and everyone who has pushed so hard to ban these outdated, unhealthy products.”
“As we had previously determined, plain and simple, expanded polystyrene cannot be recycled, and we are pleased that the court decision will allow us to remove this problematic material from our waste stream. This necessary step will help us as we continue to move towards our goal of sending zero waste to landfills,” said Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. “We will now restart our outreach and education work to ensure all city businesses are aware of the new rule, and prepared for its upcoming implementation.”
Expanded polystyrene is a plastic resin manufactured into consumer products such as “foam” cups, containers, trays, plates, clamshell cases and egg cartons.
As announced earlier this year, on January 1, 2019, New York City outlawed the material from stores, food service establishments, and mobile food commissaries.
As a result of the ban, manufacturers and stores may not sell or offer single-use foam items such as cups, plates, trays, or clamshell containers in the City. The sale of polystyrene loose fill packaging, such as “packing peanuts” is also banned. And, businesses were given a six-month transition period before the crackdown began.
Promoting Use of Recyclable Alternatives
“New York City’s ban on styrofoam is long overdue, and New Yorkers are ready to start using recyclable alternatives. There’s no reason to continue allowing this environmentally unfriendly substance to flood our streets, landfills, and waterways,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"Single use styrofoam food containers and packing peanuts clog our waterways, litter our streets, and poison our planet. These products are bad for the environment — and that means they’re bad for New Yorkers,” State Senator Brian Kavanagh said. “With this ban, New York City will leave behind a record of innovative environmental protections — instead of tons of non-biodegradable styrofoam waste. I’d like to congratulate Mayor de Blasio on this legal victory and thank the Mayor, Sanitation Commissioner Garcia, the advocates who have worked on this issue, and everyone who has pushed so hard to ban these outdated, unhealthy products.”
“As we had previously determined, plain and simple, expanded polystyrene cannot be recycled, and we are pleased that the court decision will allow us to remove this problematic material from our waste stream. This necessary step will help us as we continue to move towards our goal of sending zero waste to landfills,” said Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. “We will now restart our outreach and education work to ensure all city businesses are aware of the new rule, and prepared for its upcoming implementation.”
Expanded polystyrene is a plastic resin manufactured into consumer products such as “foam” cups, containers, trays, plates, clamshell cases and egg cartons.
This project has received funding from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 837761.
