The Rhode Island Senate passed a bill last night to ban take-out styrofoam containers and plastic stirrers in restaurants.
Farmers markets, hospitals, nursing homes and charitable organizations that provide free food
would still be allowed to use those containers.
“Foam is one of the worst offenders when it comes to single-use food packaging. It is generally not recycled, and its light weight allows it to easily blow away when it becomes litter, harming our land and marine environments. Even though it is not biodegradable, it easily breaks apart into tiny pieces, and it can hurt or kill animals who mistake small, floating bits of it as food. Fortunately, today there are so many significantly better alternatives to foam. As the Ocean State, Rhode Island absolutely should be among the growing number of states and cities that are saying no to foam,” said Senator Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence).
The bill now goes to the House.
If passed, the styrofoam ban would go into effect on January first, 2025.
(Photo by David Paul Morris/Getty Images)