San Diego, California – California’s ban on Styrofoam foodware is now in full effect after the plastic industry failed to meet a key recycling target. CalRecycle, the state department overseeing recycling efforts, announced Friday that the ban on expanded polystyrene (EPS), commonly known as Styrofoam, will be enforced following the plastic industry’s inability to achieve a 25% recycling rate by the end of 2024.
The ban, which was part of a 2022 anti-plastic pollution bill, allows for the continued sale and distribution of Styrofoam only if producers could prove a 25% recycling rate by the start of 2025. With the target unmet and EPS recycling rates remaining around 1% nationwide, the law now mandates that expanded polystyrene producers cannot sell, distribute, or import these products into California.
The move to enforce the ban follows growing concerns over plastic pollution, with Styrofoam being a significant contributor to environmental harm. The material is notoriously difficult to recycle and often ends up polluting oceans and harming wildlife. As of January 1, 2025, the recycling target for EPS is set to increase incrementally, requiring 30% by 2028, 50% by 2030, and 65% by 2032…