SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) — The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a comprehensive ban on the sale of polystyrene, or Styrofoam in San Francisco.
Supervisor London Breed, introduced the legislation that will ban the sale of polystyrene food ware, such as cups and plates, fish and meat trays, packing materials including packing peanuts, coolers and ice chests, and pool and beach toys.
The legislation also bans the use of polystyrene packing materials for items packaged in San Francisco.
The comprehensive ban would take place on the first of the new year, on January 1, 2017.
Styrofoam cannot be recycled through San Francisco’s recycling program. Rather than decomposing, it tends to break down into smaller, non-biodegradable pieces that pollute the Bay and ocean and get consumed by seabirds.
San Francisco has prohibited serving food in Styrofoam since 2007.
The board approved the legislation on a first reading on Tuesday and is expected to give a final approval on July 12, 2016.Bay City News contributed to this report.