House bill 25 would ban use of Styrofoam in food establishments
Legislation to ban use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) for takeout food service has passed the Alaska House and is now before the state Senate.
House Bill 25, sponsored by Rep. Andy Josephson, D-Anchorage, would also bar state agencies from purchasing Styrofoam, aiming to reduce plastic pollution and protect the marine environment.
The Senate State Affairs committee held its first hearing on HB 25 on April 28, with testimony offered by Josephson and Pamela Miller, Executive Director for Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT).
Josephson testified in detail about the health hazards of polystyrene, which is linked to several cancers, noting that polystyrene take-out containers are difficult to pick up during beach cleanups when the polystyrene breaks down into small pieces.
Exposure to polystyrene is not healthy and at recycling centers the product contaminates other products in a bin, he said. Some recycling centers, including one in Anchorage, do post signs saying not to leave Styrofoam, but some people do this regardless, thinking it is recyclable.
Miller also testified in detail about adverse health effects of exposure to polystyrene, a plastic polymer classified as a human carcinogen.
Exposure to polystyrene has been linked to leukemia, lymphoma, cancers of the pancreas and esophagus, lung tumors, liver damage and harm to the central nervous system, she said.
Once out in the environment polystyrene is also an environmental pollutant, breaking down into small particles in streams, rivers and oceans.
It is especially problematic in rural Alaska where landfills cannot contain these plastics and they are often burned without any controls on toxic emissions, Miller said. In freshwater and marine environments, polystyrene micro-particles are ingested by marine fish and wildlife who mistake it for food and these animals may suffer harmful effects.
“Perhaps the best evidence to demonstrate that alternatives are affordable is the fact that twelve states and 250 municipalities that serve over 30% of all Americans have passed similar laws, including Bethel, Cordova, and Seward in Alaska,” she said.
Some businesses, including McDonald’s, have stopped using polystyrene packaging, as customers are increasingly demanding biodegradable, compostable service ware. In Alaska, businesses that have ceased using polystyrene containers have seen up to a 15% increase in repeat customers after making the transition, and reported higher customer satisfaction, according to Miller.
The bill is supported by ACAT and other environmental entities and opposed by organizations including plastic industry groups and the Alaska Chamber of Commerce, which cites financial burdens on the restaurant industry. The bill would allow businesses to continue use of these containers until they run out, so long as they were purchased before Dec. 31, 2026.
If passed into law, HB 25 would take effect on Jan. 1, 2027.