Virginia polystyrene foam phaseout begins July 1 

Virginians will finally be saying farewell to foam!

The first phase of Virginia’s ban on expanded polystyrene foam takeout and beverage containers goes into effect on July 1, 2025. The phaseout will happen in two stages: this year, chains with more than 20 locations will be required to no longer use foam and smaller businesses will have to comply by July 1, 2026.  

Environment Virginia led the effort to pass the bill (HB1902) in 2021 and gathered more than 50,000 signed petitions in support of the ban. Since former Gov. Ralph Northam signed it into law; the bill has been repeatedly attacked by current Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration and the plastics industry. The ban was originally set to go into effect in 2023, before legislators voted to extend the date. In March, Gov. Youngkin proposed another extension until 2028, but the budget proposal was struck down.

“Virginians are ready to say farewell to foam. This bipartisan law will keep harmful single-use foam products out of our environment and protect the wildlife that often confuse this plastic as food,” said Elly Wilson, Environment Virginia’s state director. “We are grateful to Delegate Betsy Carr for championing this legislation as well as her ongoing efforts to protect the law from attempts at delays and rollbacks.”

Single-use foam, also known as expanded polystyrene (EPS), is one of the most commonly-collected litter items in Virginia. When released into the environment, plastic foam can contaminate soil and water for up to thousands of years. Polystyrene is also toxic to wildlife that mistakes the foam for food, while also presenting a significant choking hazard. If swallowed, the foam fills the stomach and sometimes causes an animal to not feel hungry long enough to starve.

“Whether you are driving down a country road in rural Virginia, kayaking down the Shenandoah River or walking through a city park, you have seen the impacts of plastic pollution and how much single use foam contributes to this issue,” Wilson said. “We are thrilled that Virginia is moving in the right direction in tackling this issue. Now, we’ll be able to bring our favorite takeout food home without wondering what damage the packaging will do to our environment once it’s thrown away.”