‘Going to Costco to stock up,’ shoppers complain as state confirms summer staples will be completely banned from June 1 – The US Sun

COMPANIES could be fined $250 weeks after a state ban goes into effect.

Washington state decided in 2021 that it would broadly ban Styrofoam in its efforts to reduce single-use plastics.

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This comes after expanded polystyrene (EPS) materials were identified as an important environmental containment.

They “are difficult to recycle and are expensive,” the state Department of Ecology (DoE) said. he said.

“They are treated as contaminants [by the state because] EPS materials are extremely fragile and easily break into small pieces.

“These small pieces spread with the wind and contaminate the environment.”

The new law was split into two, with the first phase launched last June, which banned the use of Styrofoam packaging for peanuts.

On June 1, 2024, the final part of the ban will come into force.

In three days it will be illegal for businesses to sell or distribute Styrofoam products, including cups, plates, bowls and coolers.

“This prohibition applies to any person, firm, association, partnership, corporation, government entity, organization, or joint venture that sells or distributes the EPS products covered by this prohibition,” the DoE states.

However, some items will be exempt, such as egg cartons, containers for medical products and equipment, and packaging for slaughtered meat and other products.

Entities that violate the upcoming ban will be given the opportunity by the State to change their method of operation.

These companies will receive resources and a guide to other alternatives to Styrofoam.

But those who continue to violate the new law will receive a $250 fine.

“While we aim to provide assistance in achieving compliance whenever possible, repeated and continued non-compliance may result in a fine of up to $250,” the DoE said.

The Department added that companies will receive “education, resources and technical assistance” before this happens.

In response to the news, a buyer he said on X, formerly Twitter, that they were “going to Costco tomorrow to stock up.”

“Why? You can’t reheat food in it, it’s not recyclable and it’s terrible for the local environment,” another user responded.

“Why are you worried about the Styrofoam?”

Companies are advised to find an alternative material to use before the deadline comes into force, as existing stocks of EPS materials will be included in the ban.

This means that buyers who stockpile Styrofoam and then distribute it will still be violating the law, even if they purchased the material before the ban.

Compatible materials that could be used as a replacement include bagasse, a compostable material made from sugar cane that is often used in food packaging.

Bamboo, bamboo leaf and palm leaf are also increasingly used in cutlery, plates, bowls and cups.

Washington is following in the footsteps of New York, which banned EPS materials in January 2022.

Meanwhile, the New York State Senate and Assembly just passed bills to ban Styrofoam coolers in January 2026, exempting only those used for medical purposes.

“These polystyrene coolers, or ice chests, have been a particularly troublesome source of pollution because they are often taken to beaches, parks and other recreation areas, used once and then discarded – often ending up as litter on courses. water and throughout the environment,” according to Natural Resources Defense Council

The US Sun has reached out to the Washington Department of Ecology for comment.

Meanwhile, Walmart is cracking down on its packaging to save 2,000 metric tons of plastic waste per year.

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