The Sustainable DC Omnibus Act bans expanded polystyrene foam food containers, cups, plates, and trays at any DC food service business or institution effective January 2016.
Under DC Code 8-1531, no food service entity may sell or provide food in disposable expanded polystyrene foam containers. The ban covers restaurants, food trucks, schools, hospitals, grocers, and government agencies. Manufacturers and wholesalers cannot sell polystyrene foodware into DC. The 2020 Sustainable DC Omnibus extended the ban to plastic food service products that are not recyclable or compostable, requiring all disposable foodware to be reusable, recyclable, or compostable per DOEE-approved lists.
Distributing polystyrene foodware in DC food service, or selling non-compliant disposable foodware as a wholesaler, triggers DOEE fines starting at $100 first offense, escalating to $800 per day for repeat violations.
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