Styrofoam containers will soon be banned in Virginia

ByKatherineHafner/WHRO YourfoodanddrinkordersinVirginiamaystarttolookalittledifferent. StartingJuly1,largefoodvendorsacrossthestatewillnolongerbeallowedtousesingle-useexpandedpolystyrene,aplasticfoammaterialcommonlyreferredtobythebrandnameStyrofoam.Thatincludesplates,cups,bowls,traysandhingedcontainers. Statelawmakerspassedthebanfouryearsago,followingtheleadofotherssuchasMaryland,NewYorkandWashington,D.C.Implementationwasdelayed.Gov.GlennYoungkintriedunsuccessfullytopushitfurtherthroughaproposedbudgetamendmentearlierthisyear. Fornow,itonlycoversfoodvendorswith20ormorelocationsinVirginia,includingrestaurants,grocerystores,foodtrucksandcaterers. ThelawalsoappliestoschoolsandcommunitygroupsthatusefoodprogramssuchastheNationalSchoolLunchProgram. NextJuly,thebanwillexpandtoallfoodvendorsinVirginia. AdvocatessayStyrofoam,thoughcheaptopurchase,isharmfultotheenvironmentandcontributestoglobalplasticpollution. Thematerialbreaksaparteasily,allow