Environment: Ban on Polystyrene Foam Products
A house committee must act next: committee consideration.
While the bill has dozens of Democratic cosponsors, it lacks Republican support and faces significant opposition from the plastics and restaurant industries.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Restaurants, retailers, manufacturers, and distributors would have to stop using and selling foam cups, plates, takeout containers, packing peanuts, and coolers starting in 2028, requiring them to switch to costlier alternatives like paper or compostable packaging. Smaller businesses get limited relief, penalties cannot be charged more than once per week for food providers and retailers under $1 million in revenue and manufacturers or distributors under $5 million, but they still must comply with the ban itself.
“no food service provider, manufacturer, distributor, or retailer shall sell, offer for sale, or distribute expanded polystyrene food service ware.”
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representative Lloyd Doggett reintroduced the Farewell to Foam Act in March 2025. The bill seeks to phase out single-use plastic foam food service products, packing peanuts, and non-medical disposable coolers by January 2028. The article notes that while previous versions stalled, the legislation is gaining renewed attention as more states enact their own bans on expanded polystyrene (EPS).
Focusing on the regional impact, this article argues for the passage of the Farewell to Foam Act to protect Florida's coastlines. It cites data showing significant reductions in foam pollution in areas like Washington D.C. and Maryland after local bans were implemented, suggesting that a federal policy would provide similar benefits for Florida's tourism and marine ecosystems.
No votes recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Farewell to Foam Act of 2025
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.