California may ban takeout food in foam containers
Getting takeout food in foam containers would be a thing of the past under a bill approved by the state Senate.
The bill by Democratic Sen. Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach prohibits vendors from providing prepared food in expanded polystyrene containers.
He plans to amend his bill in the Assembly to apply to restaurants and vendors after Jan. 1, 2016. It would apply to schools after July 1, 2017.
Lowenthal says the material commonly known as Styrofoam often winds up as litter and eventually breaks into pieces so small that some marine animals mistake it for food.
Republican Sen. Ted Gaines of Roseville says the ban could hurt businesses. He says the state instead should target those who litter.
SB568 passed Thursday on a 21-15 vote.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/02/state/n152510D67.DTL
June 2, 2011
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/02/state/n152510D67.DTL&type=printable