Ban on plastic foam coolers, cups, and takeout containers takes effect 6/1/24

In 2019, on a backpacking trip to a remote section of the Olympia coast, my husband and I stumbled across the lid of a foam cooler that had washed up onto shore with mussels anchored onto the brittle plastic. “Yet another example of harmful plastic polluting our environment,” I thought, as I stooped down to take photos of the offender.

Expanded polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam, is one of the most problematic plastics around. The plastic breaks into tiny foam balls, resulting in thousands of microplastic pieces that pollute our environment and are consumed wildlife. In our waste stream, it easily contaminate other materials, which is why it is not accepted in curbside recycling collection.

Fortunately, in 2021, Washington state lawmakers passed SB 5022 into law, which banned the use of this problematic packaging material for packing peanuts, disposable coolers, and take-away cups and foodware from restaurants, in addition to making straws, plastic utensils, and condiment packets available only upon request, and establishing stronger recycled content standards for beverage containers.