Maryland Becomes First State to Ban Foam Food Packaging Containers

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Maryland has become the first state in the US to ban the use of styrofoam food packaging containers for carryout.
The law was approved in 2019 and was meant to go into effect on July 1, however, the coronavirus pandemic delayed the ban until October 1.
According to CNN, the legislation places a ban on foam containers used for items such as cups, carryout containers, and trays. The law will apply to foodservice industries, together with other institutions that use these products, including schools.
“Single-use plastics are overrunning our oceans and bays and neighborhoods,” Democratic Delegate Brooke Lierman, the main sponsor of the House bill told CNN. “We need to take dramatic steps to start stemming our use and reliance on them … to leave future generations a planet full of wildlife and green space.”