Northern Marianas looks to ban styrofoam

3:50 pm on 3 January 2020

On the heels of a proposed ban on single-use plastic bags, a bill has been introduced in the Northern Marianas House of Representatives seeking to ban styrofoam food containers.

Styrofoam cups

Photo: 123RF

The bill proposes prohibiting the use of certain styrofoam containers, beginning in two years.

These include those used for take-out foods, packaged meat, eggs and bakery products.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer say styrofoam may be carcinogenic.

It also has a wide environmental impact with about 80 percent of styrofoam ending up in landfills or waterways.

CNMI legislation on a plastic bag ban is still to be passed.