More than 50 Groups Push Styrofoam Ban in NYC

Environmental groups urge city council to rid the city of hard-to-recycle, single-use polystyrene foam.

'Romana Klee'

Updated July 8, 2025 01:17PM

If a coalition of at least 56 groups, including the Sierra Club, gets its way, the ubiquitous polystyrene foam (the generic term for Styrofoam) takeout container will be seen no more on New York City’s streets. The group sent a letter to New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito May 30 in support of a bill to ban the stuff, which they say is too difficult to recycle, pollutes city communities, and overloads the garbage system.