As of January 1, 2019, New York City stores, food service businesses, and mobile food commissaries may no longer offer, sell, or possess single-use foam food containers such as:
Additionally, manufacturers, distributors, and stores may no longer sell or offer for sale loose fill foam packaging ("packing peanuts") in NYC.
Learn more about Local Law 142 of 2013.
Read the DSNY Determination on the Recyclability of Food-Service Foam.
This ban went into effect January 1, 2019. There was a six-month warning period that ended on June 30, 2019.
Businesses found in violation of the foam ban will receive fines for each Notice of Violation issued within a 12-month period in the following amounts:
Affected businesses should be prepared to receive inspectors, at least annually as part of routine inspections or 311 investigations, from one or more of the following agencies:
Some small businesses may be eligible to apply for temporary hardship exemptions from the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) if they can prove that the purchase of alternative products not composed of foam would create a financial hardship.
Learn more about applying for a polystyrene foam hardship waiver.