Background
Problems with EPS Foam It takes at least 500 years for EPS to
In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that bans the use of EPS containers by food vendors. Currently, this ban will take effect in two phases. In the first phase, food establishments with 20 or more locations must stop using EPS containers by July 1, 2025. By July 1, 2026, remaining food establishments must comply with the ban. This applies to any food vendors that serve prepared food, including restaurants, cafeterias, food trucks, catering companies, and grocery store salad bars.
breakdown, and less than 1% is recycled. It can blow out of trashcans and enter the environment as litter. Wildlife can mistake it for food and can’t digest it. It is made of styrene, a possible carcinogen. Chronic exposure to high levels of styrene can cause liver and nerve tissue damage.
More Information: www.deq.virginia.gov/eps Contact: (804) 659-2663, valandr@deq.virginia.gov Alternatives Suggested alternatives include reusable containers and those made from recycled paper, bamboo, wheat straw, foil & metal, and recyclable plastic.
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OCI June 2025
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