Connecticut lawmakers on the state environment committee have advanced legislation that would ban foam takeout containers, starting in July 2023.
Democrats on the committee said the single-use containers are major polluters and take up excessive space in landfills. Republicans said the bill needs to be delayed due to the pandemic impact on restaurants and catering businesses.
More than 600 restaurants in the state have closed during the pandemic and others continue to close during the colder months with hopes to reopen in the spring.
Christine Cohen is a Democratic State Senator of Guilford who co-chairs the committee. She said lawmakers purposefully pushed back the implementation until July 2023 so restaurants can get back on their feet.
New York will ban foam takeout containers in 2022.
The Connecticut bill would also prohibit the intentional release of certain helium balloons and look at composting for certain single-use produce bags.
