Virginia food vendors and consumers adjust to styrofoam ban
A new cardboard Cookout box. Cookout is one of the businesses affected by Virginia’s styrofoam ban. Photo by Michelle Poole.
Sal Orlando, Staff Writer
The Virginia General Assembly’s ban on food vendors’ use of expanded polystyrene, a plastic foam material known by its brand name “Styrofoam,” went into effect in July.
The ban has two phases: food vendors with 20 or more locations had to stop using Styrofoam by July 1, 2025, while vendors with fewer locations have until July 2, 2026, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam signed the law into effect in 2021. It was originally proposed by Del. Betsy Carr, D-Richmond.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin attempted in March to delay the ban until 2028 for vendors with 20 or more locations, and 2030 for others through his biennium budget proposal, though he was unsuccessful.
Styrofoam is difficult to recycle, causing the material to build up in landfills and natural environments, according to RVAgreen — Richmond’s climate action and resilience planning initiative.
The buildup of styrofoam eventually breaks down into microplastics and contaminates soil and waterways. Tara Worden, RVAgreen’s sustainability manager, stated Richmond supports the ban.
Restaurants like Chick-fil-A and Cookout have switched to paper and plastic products to meet the ban’s requirements.
A vendor must pay $50 for every day they are in violation, according to the bill. The money collected from the violations will be deposited into the Litter Control and Recycling Fund, a portion of which will be used to fund public awareness campaigns discouraging the use of plastic foam.
Curbside Cafe co-owner Jeff Sullivan said the ban is challenging as restaurant supply distribution centers have few options for businesses.
“So it’s like, if you know the law is changing, what are we going to have to work with?” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said it has been easy to find eco-friendly alternatives for boxes, but not so much for cups.
“For to-go boxes, we like them better,” Sullivan said. “I think they are more stackable and hold heat better. We found some advantages for just pennies more. The cups, there seem to be less affordable options.”
The Virginia DEQ noted food vendors can apply for a one-year exemption to the ban if they demonstrate it would cause “undue economic hardship.”
First-year English student Colin Close said the law is a good step for Virginia toward helping the environment.
“I’m kinda glad with the paper, especially with the boxes, especially with the dorms, it’s really nice to microwave stuff,” Close said.
Forensic science graduate student Jonathan Moline disagreed, as he found coffee in Styrofoam cups to be better.
Environmental policy and planning associate professor emeritus Avrum Shriar said though biodegradable alternatives may cost more, it is worth it to protect the environment.
“It’s a lousy on many fronts; we should have gotten rid of it [styrofoam] a long time ago,” Shriar said. “In Virginia, we are not so quick to act on some of these things, compared to other states or countries.”
