Washington State Bans Plastic Foam, Limits Ocean-Polluting Single-Use Plastic at Restaurants - Oceana USA

Victory | May 17, 2021

Washington State Bans Plastic Foam, Limits Ocean-Polluting Single-Use Plastic at Restaurants

U.S. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill into law that limits the use of unnecessary single-use plastic across the state, following campaigning by Oceana and our allies in the Pacific Northwest. The new law bans the manufacture, sale, and distribution of certain plastic foam products, including foodware, packing peanuts, and foam coolers. It also requires dining establishments to only provide single-use plastic utensils, straws, cold-beverage cup lids, and condiment packaging if requested by customers. This law makes Washington the first state on the West Coast and the seventh in the country to ban plastic foam food containers, as well as the first state to ban plastic foam coolers.