Image Courtesy of Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority
UTICA, N.Y. — New York State expanded its polystyrene ban to include cold storage containers starting at the beginning of this year.
The ban prohibits the sale or distribution of expanded polystyrene containers for cold storage unless they were fully encapsulated within a more durable container.
This followed the State’s 2020 ban on single-use foam food containers and packing peanuts.
“In 2024, the state law was amended to include a ban on certain expanded polystyrene foam containers that are used for cold storage,” according to the New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation.
“When polystyrene foam ends up as litter in the environment,” the DEC continued, “it can persist for a long time and may also become microplastic pollution. In addition, foam containers and loose fill packaging, such as packing peanuts, are not accepted in most recycling programs in New York State because the foam is difficult to recycle and has a low value.
The State seeks to reduce environmental litter and promote sustainable materials’ management through these bans.
“This can also be an opportunity to make the switch from bagged ice to reusable ice packs,” the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority shared on social media as a reminder regarding the ban.