Styrofoam Ban

Effective January 1, 2019, food and beverage providers are prohibited from selling, vending, or serving food or beverages on/in disposable foam polystyrene (Styrofoam) food and beverage containers.

Banned & Allowed Containers

Banned and allowed styrofoam containers include:

Food and Beverage ContainersBannedAllowed
BowlsX
ClamshellsX
CupsX
Drink Lids
X
Egg Cartons
X
Liquid Cartons
X
PlatesX
Raw Meat Trays
X
Serving TraysX
Splash Sticks
X
Soup Lids
X
Stir Sticks
X
Straws
X
Utensils
X


Benefits

Benefits of the ban to our community include:

  • Reducing waste by requiring food or beverage service ware that is readily reusable, recyclable, or compostable
  • Retaining local control, rather than relying on potential State-wide regulations
  • Obtaining "Trash Reduction - Source Control" credits on Annual Stormwater Report
  • Further implementing the objectives of our Citywide Climate Action Plan
  • Reducing human health risks associated with styrene, a chemical known to cause cancer
  • Improving water quality in the Concord waterways and beyond
  • Reducing the risk of harm to wildlife as polystyrene breaks apart into small pieces and is mistaken as food by birds, fish, and wildlife and does not biodegrade