The city of Newport is considering whether to ban restaurants from serving food in single-use plastic containers. The Newport City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal Monday evening at 6 p.m.
The law would apply to both dine-in and take-out food, and would ban any single-use plastic container, including those made of Styrofoam. The ordinance describes such items as being the source of widespread litter that potentially damages marine habitats.
An earlier version under discussion would have also banned single-use plastic cutlery. The current proposal would allow those items, but only if customers request them.
Businesses that violate the ban would first be issued a warning, then could be fined up to $500 for repeat offenses. If council members approve the proposal in December, it would take effect March 31, 2022.
