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U.S. NEWS Friday 3 May 2019
Maine becomes 1st state to ban

single-use foam containers

By MARINA VILLENEUVE providing time to adjust. sage" to companies in the
Associated Press The law will prohibit "cov- state that manufacture
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — ered establishments" — like food service containers.
Maine has banned single- restaurants and grocery "These types of issues are
use food and drink contain- stores — from using poly- better dealt with on a re-
ers made from polystyrene styrene containers. Hospi- gional or national basis due
foam, commonly known as tals, seafood shippers and to unbalanced cost impact
Styrofoam, becoming the state-funded meals-on- it will have on Maine busi- A coffee cup made from polystyrene foam, commonly known
first state to do so. wheels programs will be ex- nesses," he said in written as Styrofoam, lies on the side of a road, Wednesday, May 1,
2019, in Augusta, Maine.
Democratic Gov. Janet empt. testimony to lawmakers.q Associated Press
Mills signed the bill, which Maine has banned foam
takes effect in 2021, into food containers at state fa-
law Tuesday. cilities and functions since
Environmental groups have 1993. Some communities in
sought such bans amid ris- the state had also already
ing public awareness of banned polystyrene.
throwaway plastic that ac- The legislation faced strong
cumulates in the oceans, opposition from the plastics
but the Natural Resources industry, food service con-
Council of Maine said that tainer manufacturers and
Maine is the first state to en- Maine business and tourism
act a ban. groups, which argued poly-
Similar legislation passed styrene is economical and
Maryland's Legislature in a better than other mate-
April, but it's unclear wheth- rials at keeping food from
er that state's Republican spoiling.
governor, Larry Hogan, will Such industry groups argue
sign it. Maine's new law doesn't
Oregon, Vermont and Con- mean consumers will stop
necticut are also consider- littering and doesn't ensure
ing banning the containers, alternatives will be better
and dozens of communi- for the environment.
ties from Berkeley, Califor- "It is our sincere hope that
nia, to New York City have Gov. Mills and the Maine
already passed their own Legislature will reconsider
bans, some of which date this legislation next year
back to the late 1980s. Sev- after they see how it will
eral companies such as negatively impact the en-
Dunkin' and McDonald's vironment and local busi-
have also pledged to or nesses and consumers,"
have already eliminated said Omar Terrie, a director
foam cups. in the American Chemistry
In December, European Council's plastics division.
Union officials agreed to The plastics industry also
ban some single-use plas- says they're taking volun-
tics, such as polystyrene tary steps to make plastic
food and beverage con- packaging reusable, recy-
tainers, in an effort to curb clable or recoverable by
marine pollution. 2030. The industry in Janu-
"With the threats posed by ary committed to spending
plastic pollution becoming $1.5 billion over five years to
more apparent, costly, and end plastic waste through
even deadly to wildlife, we a new nonprofit, The Alli-
need to be doing every- ance to End Plastic Waste,
thing possible to limit our according to American
use and better manage Chemistry Council lobbyist
our single-use plastics — Margaret Gorman.
starting with eliminating the "All packaging leaves an
use of unnecessary forms environmental footprint
like plastic foam," said Sar- regardless of the material
ah Lakeman, Sustainable type," Gorman told Maine
Maine director at the Nat- lawmakers in written testi-
ural Resources Council of mony.
Maine. Maine State Chamber of
Mills called it an "important Commerce lobbyist Ben
step forward in protecting Gilman said the bill would
our environment." The gov- raise costs for small busi-
ernor said it creates consis- nesses, in particular, while
tency for businesses while sending a "chilling mes-