If you’ve gotten used to taking advantage of plastic utensils and polystyrene foam containers offered at local food restaurants when you order, the days of these supplies could be numbered.
Senate Bill 51 was introduced in Delaware’s state Senate on Feb. 17 and would prohibit food establishments from giving customers beverages or ready-to-eat food in polystyrene foam containers, according to a bill summary on the Delaware General Assembly website.
Single-use plastic drink stirrers, cocktail picks and sandwich picks also would be prohibited. Plastic straws would only be available upon request by customers, according to the bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, who cites environmental concerns as the driving factor for the proposed restrictions.
Are there exceptions to the bill?
Plastic straws will still be allowed for hospital patients and residents of long-term care facilities, or those attached to products like juice boxes.
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Other exemptions to SB51 include cooler or ice chest packaging used for shipping seafood, eggs, raw meat, vegetables and fruits.
Packaging and utensil restrictions would not apply to healthcare providers that offer long-term, acute and outpatient healthcare services, fire companies and nonprofit organizations, including religious institutions.
What does the restaurant industry think?
Carrie Leishman, president and CEO of the Delaware Restaurant Association, does not support SB51 and feels it “targets the restaurant industry” and creates a field of “haves and have nots” based on who can afford adjusted costs associated with the bill, making it more of a political move than an environmental initiative.
“Some of our smaller and ethnic restaurants are telling us they cannot afford it right now,” said Leishman. “Any increase to their bottom line is really a hardship.”
She adds that while various restaurants already have switched to more eco-friendly dining materials, “anti-small business legislation” like SB51 puts small-business owners at risk.
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Third attempt for ban
Two previous iterations of legislation that would ban polystyrene use in restaurants did not pass during the 151st General Assembly.
Attempts at reaching the Delaware General Assembly for clarification about why the previous two bills proposing a ban on polystyrene use did not pass were unsuccessful.
If the bill is passed and signed by Gov. John Carney, restrictions would go into effect on July 1, 2025.
The bill has been assigned to the Senate Environment, Energy & Transportation committee for further consideration.
