Texas Health and Safety Code section 361.0961 preempts cities and counties from regulating containers and packages, which the Texas Supreme Court Laredo case extends to polystyrene foam. Dallas County cannot ban Styrofoam takeout containers. Restaurants and grocers freely use polystyrene packaging.
Texas Health and Safety Code 361.0961, the Solid Waste Disposal Act preemption clause interpreted by City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Association (2018), bars Texas cities and counties from regulating containers and packages, including polystyrene foam. Dallas County has no expanded polystyrene ordinance and is preempted from enacting one. Restaurants, school cafeterias, and grocery stores across Dallas County freely use foam clamshells, cups, and trays. The Texas Restaurant Association cites the ruling whenever local proposals surface. Federal FDA rules still govern food-contact safety of polystyrene. Dallas County HHS and Public Works pursue voluntary recycling and litter education only. Some commercial recyclers accept clean expanded polystyrene from restaurants and offices.
Dallas County imposes no penalty on polystyrene foam containers because the county has no ordinance and is preempted from creating one. State litter laws under Health and Safety Code chapter 365 still apply to discarded foam packaging in unincorporated areas.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Garland, TX
Amplified sound in Garland is regulated under Chapter 32; sound 'plainly audible' more than 50 feet from the source after 10 PM is a violation.
Garland, TX
Garland restricts construction noise to daytime hours, with most loud work prohibited overnight and limited on Sundays under Chapter 32 of the Code of Ordina...
Garland, TX
Garland permits leaf blower use under its general noise ordinance, restricting operation to daytime hours with no specific gas-powered ban.
Garland, TX
Garland regulates noise from industrial uses along the I-30 and IH-635 corridors through zoning performance standards and the Code of Ordinances Chapter 32 n...
Garland, TX
Garland generally allows overnight on-street parking in residential areas, but restricts vehicles parked continuously in the same spot for more than 48-72 ho...
Garland, TX
Garland follows Texas Transportation Code Chapter 683, defining vehicles as junked or abandoned if inoperable, unregistered, wrecked, or left on public prope...
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