In 2014, New York City Sanitation Bureau Council required that food service industry determines whether foam products can be recycled, how to recycle waste foam to achieve economic feasibility environmentally, otherwise the Styrofoam packaging will be disabled. Last year, New York city government announced that it would support a ban, despite there are a lot of evidence that polystyrene products can be recycled safely and economically.
This year, New York State Supreme Court overturned the decision that Sanitation Bureau Kathryn Garcia disabled foam in food service industry, cleared the way for implementation of 100% recycled polystyrene products project in New York City.
Margaret Chan judge’s ruling overturned the ban completely, clearly indicate that EPS can be recycled. An indisputable answer is ‘Yes’. EPS disposable container and food trays can be recycled.” The ruling requires the New York City Sanitation Bureau takes the ban position into consideration, allowing the city’s polystyrene recycling, and promote the recycling process of hard EPS.
In terms of the environment New York City, the decision is a victory. New York City will be the leader of recycling PS from the waste stream, and generated revenue in the process, former member of the city council Robert Jackson said, he is the second lawsuit party – the leader of Restaurants Action Coalition. This decision ended the debate on polystyrene recycling, clearly show that the material can be recycled, and there is market demand. Now, New York City, you can take action.