Virginia makes progress toward plastic foam ban

A bipartisan bill in Virginia could have ripple effects on the health of our wildlife and wild places for generations to come. 

Mary Katherine Moore

A bipartisan bill in Virginia could have ripple effects on the health of our wildlife and wild places for generations to come. 

On Jan. 19, the Virginia House of Delegates voted to pass a bill banning polystyrene foam (what most of us call Styrofoam) cups and take-out containers in the state. Polystyrene products are one of the most frequently observed forms of plastic pollution in our oceans, and they’re also among the most pervasive since they never fully degrade.

“Environment Virginia has talked to tens of thousands of Virginians about plastic pollution and polystyrene, and has collected more than 50,000 petitions calling on our leaders to take action on this crucial issue,” said Elly Boehmer, Environment Virginia state director.  

“Virginia’s leaders in the House of Delegates listened again today and we look forward to our leaders in the Senate doing the same.”

Read more the vote.

Learn more about our Wildlife Over Waste campaign. 

Photo: Members of our national network gathered to clean up foam and other plastic pollution in 2019. Credit: Staff

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