NYC has made good on its promise to rid our takeout landscape of environmentally unfriendly plastic foam containers. The Mayor's office announced that the citywide ban of expanded polystyrene will take effect in July of this year, ending a year-long trial period to see if the noxious substance could be recycled instead of bulking up landfills.
“While much of the waste we produce can be recycled or reused, polystyrene foam is not one of those materials,” explained Sanitation Commissioner Kathryn Garcia. “Removing polystyrene from our waste stream is not only good for a greener, more sustainable New York, but also for the communities who are home to landfills receiving the City’s trash.”
Establishments will have a six-month grace period to find alternative food containment solutions and during the first year of the ban, businesses found in violation will be issued a warning instead of a fine. Businesses earning $500,000 or less in income per year can also apply for exemptions if replacing the material would be cost-prohibitive.
Packing peanuts are also part of the deal—though packages shipped from outside New York will still be permitted—but the ban mostly affects restaurants and street carts, who use cups and containers to keep food hot for longer periods of time. When looking for solutions, establishments can always consult the millennials.
