Maryland was the first state to ban expanded polystyrene foam food service products statewide, prohibiting their sale and use at food service businesses.
Effective in 2020 under HB 109, Maryland's Environment Article prohibits food service businesses, schools, and food packagers from selling, distributing, or using expanded polystyrene foam cups, plates, clamshells, and trays. The ban covers restaurants, caterers, public schools, and grocery store hot bars. Pre-packaged food shipped from outside Maryland and certain raw meat trays remain exempt. Local health departments enforce the law and may issue waivers to small businesses showing economic hardship. The Maryland Department of the Environment maintains compliance guidance.
Violations are civil fines starting at $250 for a first offense and rising to $500 per subsequent offense per day.
Takoma Park, MD
Takoma Park sets residential decibel limits at 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime under Ordinance 2002-35. If ambient noise already exceeds these thresholds...
Takoma Park, MD
Takoma Park adopts Montgomery County construction noise standards (MoCo Code 31B-6) by reference. Weekday construction is allowed 7 AM to 5 PM at up to 75 dB...
Takoma Park, MD
Outdoor music in Takoma Park must comply with 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime limits. Events with amplified outdoor music require a temporary waiver requ...
Takoma Park, MD
Under Chapter 14.12 Section 9, no person may allow a dog or other animal to persistently, habitually, or continuously bark, howl, or yelp causing a noise dis...
Takoma Park, MD
Industrial and commercial noise in Takoma Park must meet the same residential decibel limits as all other sources: 65 dBA daytime and 55 dBA nighttime at the...
Takoma Park, MD
Takoma Park has among the strictest leaf blower rules in the DC metro. The city noise ordinance (Ch. 14.12, Sec. 8) caps all leaf blowers at 70 dBA at 50 fee...
See how Takoma Park's polystyrene foam rules rules stack up against other locations.
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