RI Senate Passes Bill Banning Foam Containers, Plastic Stirrers At Restaurants

RHODE ISLAND — The Rhode Island State Senate on Thursday voted 33-2 in favor of a bill to ban foam containers and plastic stirrers in restaurants.

The bill (2023-S 0014A) was sponsored by state Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Cranston, Providence), a restaurant owner, in an effort to reduce litter in the Ocean State.

"Foam is one of the worst offenders when it comes to single-use food packaging," Miller said. "It is generally not recycled, and its light weight allows it to easily blow away when it becomes litter, harming our land and marine environments. Even though it is not biodegradable, it easily breaks apart into tiny pieces, and it can hurt or kill animals who mistake small, floating bits of it as food. Fortunately, today there are so many significantly better alternatives to foam."

If the bill is signed into law, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2025. It would not apply to agricultural fairs, farmers markets, hospitals, nursing homes, "Meals on Wheels"-type programs or charitable organizations that are providing food for free. It also would not apply to packaging on prepackaged food items that a restaurant purchases at wholesale or to foam coolers or ice chests that are used for processing or shipping food.

If the legislation is enacted, Rhode Island would join Maine, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland, Colorado, Washington and Washington D.C. among states and jurisdictions that have passed laws banning foam food service containers.

"Pulling foam off the table will result in the industry replacing it with less-harmful alternatives, including those that are recyclable," Miller said. "With Rhode Island’s central landfill scheduled to reach its capacity by 2040, reducing disposable waste must be a priority for our state."

The bill now moves to the Rhode Island House of Representatives, where similar legislation is up for a vote.