Operations

Maine bans polystyrene food containers

Photograph: Shutterstock

Maine has become the first state to ban polystyrene food containers, adding topspin to a movement that had not previously extended beyond a handful of local jurisdictions.

The measure, signed into law last week by Gov. Janet Mills, takes effect Jan. 1. It bans any disposable food or beverage container made with polystyrene, the foam-like packaging material sold under the brand name Styrofoam.

The ban is comprehensive. The law specifically outlaws any “container, bowl, plate, tray, carton, cup, lid or other item designed to be used for prepared foods,” and covers virtually any business selling food, from restaurants to farm stands. 

The responsibilities and methods for policing the ban, and the penalties for violators, were not set out in the law. Those details will be hammered out by the state’s executive branch in the months ahead.

Maine may have narrowly edged out Hawaii to become the first state to ban polystyrene. A bill prohibiting the use of containers made with the common packaging material was introduced in Hawaii’s legislature in January and has cleared several committees already. 

A ban has also been proposed in California. 

A polystyrene ban went into effect in New York City on Jan. 1, after a court battle that raged for several years. It joined a number of cities large and small—from Glen Cove, N.Y., to Seattle—that have already outlawed the container because it does not degrade in landfills and can pose a threat to wildlife if discarded as litter. The list includes Freeport and Portland, Maine. 

A number of counties have also prohibited restaurants from using the familiar containers, which were widely adapted in the 1980s because of their low cost, integrity and heat-retention properties.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

Brands shift their attention back to smaller operators

The Bottom Line: While plenty of franchises like Subway still want large-scale franchisees, there is a movement to keep their sizes down.

Operations

Should Cracker Barrel get out of the gift shop business?

Reality Check: The retail component of the family dining concept drew off sales and profits during the brand's most recent quarter. Maybe it's time to leave the shops out of future Cracker Barrels.

Financing

Wendy's, whose chairman is an activist, may be getting an activist

The Bottom Line: Activist investor Blackwells apparently plans to nominate “several directors” to the burger chain’s board, according to Reuters.

Trending

More from our partners