California has unveiled a website dedicated to the reporting of businesses using styrofoam. The website comes as a law that took effect on January 1 makes it illegal for producers to sell or distribute expanded polystyrene (EPS) materials for food services.
SB 54 establishes a “new extended producer responsibility (EPR) program to manage packaging and single-use plastic food ware products across every sector of the economy,” a CalRecycle statement says. “Producers will ensure that the packaging and plastic food ware sold in California is recyclable or compostable.”
“Producers of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) food service ware are currently restricted from selling or distributing EPS food service ware, like single-use takeout containers and cups, in or into California,” reads the reporting website. “Sellers of EPS food service ware who are NOT producers are not subject to this prohibition.”
The website specifically seeks to hold producers responsible if they sell styrofoam food ware in California until they “meet a 25% recycling rate.” The site emphasizes that the page is not to be used to report individual styrofoam users in the state or individually owned restaurants that do not produce their own EPS containers.
Those filing a report may choose whether they wish to remain anonymous and are required to fill out contact information as well as incident information, including the business name and the type of business.
Reporters must also select: “EPS food service ware came with food you purchased,” “EPS food service ware found for sale in-store,” “EPS food service ware found for sale online,” or “other.”
