Polystyrene foam soup containers are stacked in a New York restaurant. Maine is banning single-use food and drink containers made from polystyrene foam. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill into law Tuesday, April 30, 2019; environmental advocates say that makes Maine the first state to ban disposable foam food containers. Supporters say the law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2021, will reduce litter in the state’s lakes, rivers and coastal waters.
Credit: AP/Mark Lennihan
AUGUSTA, MAINE — Maine has banned single-use food and drink containers made from polystyrene foam, commonly known as Styrofoam, becoming the first state to do so.
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed the bill, which takes effect in 2021, into law Tuesday.
Environmental groups have sought such bans amid rising public awareness of throwaway plastic that accumulates in the oceans, but the Natural Resources Council of Maine said that Maine is the first state to enact a ban.
Similar legislation passed Maryland’s Legislature in April, but it’s unclear whether that state’s Republican governor, Larry […]
Lived in eastern Maine many years ago. Maine folk are generally an independent bunch and good to see them stepping out on this important issue. That Governer LaPage thingy aside.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if public policies were such that recycling was “profitable”, even to the point of mining land fills. Why couldn’t virgin materials of all kinds be taxed to drive the market towards what is already created/manufactured? Minimize the regulations maximize the profits. Jobs lost in extraction industries would be created in recycling.