The use of all polystyrene food containers will be prohibited in East Hampton Town starting in April.
The Town Board voted unanimously last week to implement the ban, which mirrors one adopted by East Hampton Village last year. The ban will apply to all food storage containers and drink containers made of expanded polystyrene foam.
The town agreed to delay the implementation of the law to allow businesses to use up supplies of the polystyrene containers they may have already purchased. The ban will officially take effect on April 22, which is Earth Day.
There were no objections raised at a public hearing on the proposal on January 19.
“There was a gentleman here who that was from the food industry,” Councilwoman Sylvia Overby said after the vote. “He called me earlier, and he was very complimentary of this particular law, because it does what it’s supposed to do but it still doesn’t punish businesses.”
Ms. Overby said she hopes to see the town ban the use of plastic straws as well. The board on Thursday, January 17, also officially introduced a law that would prohibit the intentional release of balloons. That law will be the subject of a public hearing on February 7.
MICHAEL WRIGHT
Michael Wright on Jan 22, 2019