Bill > H2066

This bill prohibits food establishments from serving food in disposable containers made from polystyrene, which is a type of plastic material including expanded polystyrene (EPS), a foam-like substance. The bill defines "disposable food container" broadly to include items like straws, cup lids, and utensils, and "food establishment" as any place that prepares or serves food. The commissioner of public health is tasked with creating regulations to enforce this prohibition, which can include fines up to $1,000 for violations. However, food establishments can apply for a one-year deferment if they can prove that complying with the ban would cause "undue hardship," meaning there are no reasonable alternatives and it would result in significant economic difficulty; these deferments can be reapplied for annually if the hardship continues.