Could your next fast food meal cost more because of environmental mandates? Ten states and the District of Columbia have banned Styrofoam containers, pushing businesses toward pricier alternatives that may hit your wallet.
According to the Daily Mail, this wave of legislation, aimed at curbing environmental damage, started years ago and now includes Delaware as the latest state to enforce a Styrofoam ban in the fast food industry.
Maine led the charge, signing its ban into law in 2019, which took effect in January 2021. It became the first U.S. state to outlaw these containers, citing their long-term harm.
New York followed suit, signing a similar ban in 2019 that went into effect in 2022. A 2024 waste study by the Department of Sanitation in New York City revealed a 54% drop in polystyrene waste by weight from 2017 to 2023.
California, a pioneer in reducing single-use plastics, banned plastic bags in 2014 and will prohibit thicker "reusable" plastic bags by 2026. The state aims to cut single-use plastics by 25% by 2032 while recycling 65% of the rest. Californians discard plastic equivalent to 290 Olympic pool-sized volumes daily.
Delaware joined this growing list earlier this week, with a ban signed in 2022 taking effect on Tuesday. Other states like California, Oregon, and Rhode Island enforced their bans on January 1, 2025.
Why the push against Styrofoam? It takes 500 years to decompose, leaks ozone into the atmosphere, and constitutes about 30% of U.S. landfill waste, per Heal The Planet. Colgate University notes that it causes respiratory and environmental issues.
Governor Janet Mills of Maine warned in 2019, "Polystyrene cannot be recycled like a lot of other products." She added, "That cup of coffee may be finished, but the Styrofoam cup lingers for decades."
She continued, "It will break down into particles, polluting our environment and hurting wildlife." Her words underscore the long-term costs of inaction, even as businesses brace for immediate impacts.
Styrofoam containers cost about 14 cents each, while biodegradable options run around 25 cents. That’s a near-doubling of packaging costs for fast food joints already squeezed by tight margins.
Ezell Barnes, owner of Zoagies food truck in Delaware, told Delaware Online, "It could affect our pricing." He added, "We already exist on razor-thin profit margins."
Carrie Leishman, CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association, echoed this concern, saying, "The stain on small businesses could end many." She also noted, "This impacts equity in the restaurant business."
Leishman further warned of broader fallout, stating, "The effect on local ethnic minority communities will be incredibly damaging." Yet, she admitted, "Most of Delaware's restaurants were already in compliance."
For wealth-minded readers, this is a reminder: government mandates often shift costs to consumers and small businesses. While environmental goals sound noble, the price hikes at your local burger joint are real. Consider supporting eateries that adapt efficiently or invest in companies innovating affordable eco-packaging.