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Read. Follow. Verify.Pennsylvania House Bill 290 Prohibits Polystyrene Food Containers and Utensils
Last action · January 23, 2025: Referred to ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION, Jan. 23, 2025Sponsors: Tim Briggs and 18 others
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What This Bill Would Do
Pennsylvania House Bill 290 bans food establishments from dispensing prepared food in polystyrene foam or solid plastic containers and prohibits retailers from selling certain polystyrene items starting July 1, 2025. Violators face civil penalties ranging from $500 for a first offense to $2,000 for subsequent offenses. The legislation also s local municipal ordinances that conflict with the statewide ban.
Food vendors, restaurants, and retail stores across Pennsylvania must replace single-use foam cups, plates, containers, and polystyrene cutlery with alternative materials to avoid escalating civil fines. Consumers will encounter changes in take-out packaging and utensil availability at local eateries and grocery stores.
- House Bill 290 was introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives during the 2025-2026 legislative session. context
- Polystyrene, commonly known by the brand name Styrofoam, is a synthetic polymer widely used in single-use food service packaging due to its insulating properties and low cost, but it is frequently targeted by environmental legislation because it does not readily biodegrade. context
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Food establishments
Food establishments must alter their packaging and utensil offerings to eliminate polystyrene items for prepared food.
Retailers
Retailers must cease selling certain polystyrene containers unless the items fall under the exemptions for meat trays, egg cartons, or packing materials.
Consumers
Consumers will receive prepared food and beverages in alternative non-polystyrene packaging and utensils.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What items are included in the polystyrene ban?
Are all polystyrene products banned for retailers?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
1 action- Jan 23, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION, Jan. 23, 2025
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 14 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Statewide Preemption of Local Ordinances
The bill explicitly overrides any existing or future local municipal ordinances that conflict with the new state polystyrene standards.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.palegis.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz40Current news / social attention level
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