All food services establishments in Plymouth, Mass. are no longer allowed to use styrofoam.Photo: Jim MacKay/WBZ NewsRadio
PLYMOUTH, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Plymouth, Mass. joins the growing list of Massachusetts towns that have banned the use of styrofoam by food establishments.
All food service locations that serve prepared food and beverages, including restaurants, cafes, and supermarkets, are affected by the ban that started on Jan. 1, 2026.
Using styrofoam is a popular choice for businesses because it's significantly cheaper than using paper products.
Banning its use does tend to raise costs, but there is near-universal agreement that banning styrofoam is good for the environment because the material is not biodegradable.
Banning styrofoam reduces air pollution, landfill waste, and environmental litter.
The people in Plymouth who were asked about the ban on Tuesday morning said they supported the decision. "Of course, it's probably going to be difficult at first, but I think we should do our part," one woman said.
Meanwhile, this guy said banning styrofoam is the right thing to do. "I get it, why people use that (styrofoam), but you just got to get creative and do it," he said.
More than 60 municipalities in Massachusetts have styrofoam bans.
Plymouth becomes the latest.
WBZ NewsRadio's Jim MacKay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.