Sale and Distribution of Polystyrene (Styrofoam) Food and Beverage Containers within the state of Maine to be prohibited January 1, 2020. Maine is the first state do so, according to an April 30, 2019 news release which notes that the governor that day signed LD 289 “An Act to Prohibit the Use of Certain Disposable Food Service Containers”
The news release notes that “… Polystyrene food containers are a significant contributor to environmental plastics pollution. Due to their light weight, they are easily windblown during waste handling processes. They then break down into microplastics, carrying toxins when ingested by wildlife where they eventually make their way into the nation’s food supply …”
According to a May 1, 2019 American Chemistry Council news release, the ban “… could lead to increased solid waste, energy use, water use, and greenhouse gas emissions …” – Summarized by Jack Cooper of the Animal Digestible Food Packaging Initiative