New York City Bans Styrofoam – Should More Cities?

What’s the story?

• New York City has begun enforcing its ban on styrofoam, fining violators $250 for the first offense, $500 for a second, and $1000 for three or more.
• The ban took effect on January 1, 2019, but the city gave restaurants and businesses a six month grace period to discontinue the use of styrofoam food containers and packing peanuts.
• The Big Apple banned styrofoam, also known as polystyrene, because it can’t be “recycled in a manner that is economically feasible” or “environmentally effective” in its recycling program, according to the Department of Sanitation.

What are people saying?

Supporters

• "New York City's ban on styrofoam is long overdue, and New Yorkers are ready to start using recyclable alternatives," New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said when he announced the ban.

"There's no reason to continue allowing this environmentally unfriendly substance to flood our streets, landfills and waterways."

• New York City Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia had also welcomed the planned ban.

“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.”

Critics

• Jeff Stier, a senior fellow at the Consumer Choice Center, wrote in the National Review that the ban would be “a job-killing, working-class-punishing, environmentally unnecessary scam.”
• Stier added that research expounding the virtues of cutting down on plastic waste “ignores the food waste or, worse, food-borne illness caused by using alternatives that lack styrofoam's ability to keep cold food cold and hot food hot.”

What do you think?

Do you support bans on Styrofoam and other single-use plastics? Take action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: iStock / wingedwolf)