Maryland is one step closer to becoming the first state to ban polystyrene

Maryland is one step closer to becoming the first state to ban one of the worst forms of plastic pollution.

In early March, the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates voted to ban single-use plastic foam cups and containers made of polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam—a toxic and especially persistent form of plastic pollution. The ban would build upon those already enacted by local governments across the state, most recently by Anne Arundel County. In 2018, Maryland PIRG and Environment Maryland gathered 7,000 petition signatures in support of the ban.

“Nothing we use for a few minutes should pollute our waterways for centuries,” said Emily Scarr, director of Maryland PIRG. “Maryland PIRG commends the Senate and House’s leadership to move beyond plastic in Maryland by going foam free.”

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Photo Caption: Polystyrene, one of the worst forms of plastic pollution, litter Maryland’s streets and waterways. (Credit: Staff)