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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - If your takeout has been arriving in paper, cardboard or foil lately, there's a reason.
As of July 1, Virginia banned the use of expanded polystyrene — the foam material commonly known by the brand name Styrofoam — for all food vendors in the state. That includes restaurants, food trucks, grocery store salad bars, catering companies and cafeterias, including those in Alexandria City Public Schools.
The ban, passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2021, rolled out in two phases. Large chains with 20 or more locations in Virginia were required to stop using foam containers by July 1, 2025. As of July 1 this year, every other food vendor in the state must comply.
The reason is environmental. Expanded polystyrene takes at least 500 years to break down in landfills, and less than 1% is recycled. The lightweight material easily blows out of trash cans and into waterways, where wildlife can mistake it for food. Styrene, a primary component of foam, is also considered a possible carcinogen; chronic exposure to high levels can cause liver and nerve tissue damage, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.
Alternatives include paper and cardboard products, recyclable plastics, bamboo, wheat straw, foil and metal containers — many of which are similarly priced to foam.
Businesses that cannot comply can apply to the city for an exemption on the grounds of undue economic hardship. Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $50 per day. Complaints about non-compliant businesses in Alexandria can be submitted to wastesmart@alexandriava.gov.
For more information, visit the City of Alexandria's Foam Free Alexandria page or the Virginia DEQ's Foam-Free Resources page.
