Bexar County Single-Use Items: Polystyrene Foam Rules Rules (2026)

There is no Bexar County ordinance banning polystyrene foam takeout containers, cups, or coolers. Texas Health and Safety Code Section 361.0961, as interpreted in the 2018 Laredo Merchants decision, prohibits local rules that ban or fee containers used for solid waste purposes. Although that case addressed plastic bags, the statutory language reaches a broader category of containers and is widely viewed as foreclosing local foam bans absent a legislative carveout. County facilities may choose non-foam alternatives in their own purchasing, but private restaurants and retailers face no county foam mandate. Recycling options are limited because expanded polystyrene is not generally accepted in residential bins.