NORFOLK, Va. — It’s something we’ve all used before: Styrofoam take-out containers and cups. But the polystyrene foam used to make those containers securing your go-to dish causes plenty of problems - for you and the environment.
That’s why Virginia lawmakers passed a bill in 2021 that banned the use of these products in restaurants. But the ban still hasn’t been enacted. But some lawmakers are working to change that.
Styrofoam is the most associated brand name for the synthetic material known as polystyrene.
According to the National Toxicology Program, the chemical styrene may leach into our food and drinks when we use polystyrene containers. It's a mutagenic type of chemical, meaning it can change the way our DNA expresses itself, with correlation to some cancers.
The bill in Virginia would have banned all use of Styrofoam containers by 2025. But in 2022, the General Assembly and Gov. Glenn Youngkin move those dates to 2028 for large chains, and 2030 for all other businesses.
Fast forward to this year, and the Virginia General Assembly has agreed to speed up the timeline once again. Led by Del. Betsy Carr (D-Richmond), a compromise was reached on a revision to the plan. The revision will have all polystyrene takeout items banned by 2026.
The revised plan still needs approval from Youngkin by April 17.