San Francisco Enacts Broad Ban on Plastic Foam

Date: July 9, 2016

Source: News Room

The City of San Francisco, CA has enacted an ordinance that bans the sale of plastic foam, used primarily in food containers and disposable coolers. It is set to take effect next year and expands a 2006 ban on take-out food containers made of the "expanded polystyrene" foam, sometimes incorrectly referred to as Styrofoam. Opponents of the measure say it will do nothing to address foam-wrapped goods that are shipped into the city. Proponents argue that the foam products are difficult to recycle and can take hundreds of years to degrade. In California, more than 70 cities, including San Francisco, San Jose and Santa Monica, have restrictions on plastic foam container use. New York City tried to ban single-use plastic foam products last year, but that was overturned by a state judge who said the foam containers could be recycled.

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