Plastic restrictions in fast food bill passed in Delaware

DELAWARE – ​Governor John Carney signed Senate Bill 51 addressing plastics in the environment.

Bill sponsors say with this legislation it will be safer for Delawarean’s health by removing the consumption of plastic, by prohibiting food businesses from using ready-to-eat containers made of polystyrene- foam containers.

That includes coffee stirrers, clamshell containers, and plastic straws.

47 ABC spoke with one of the bill sponsors, Representative Paul Baumbach who says it’s so common to see plastics in our day-to-day lives but it’s also easy to find safer alternatives. “We’ve all seen the plastics out on the highway and everywhere else, especially the polystyrene and Styrofoam that stuff you step on it and it turns into 5,000 pieces, and it goes everywhere, so this is designed to get rid of it because there are plenty of alternatives that are far better for our next generations,” said Representative Paul Baumbach.

​Representative Baumbach says plenty of youth helped advocate for this bill – which was important because it will directly impact their futures. The bill takes effect July 1st 2025.