Newport’s City Council voted Monday to ban restaurants from offering food and beverages in single-use plastic items, including those made of Styrofoam.
The lawwill govern both dine-in and take-out food. It applies to cups and plates, and makes disposable plastic cutlery available only on customer request.
City Council member Ryan Parker said plastic food and beverage containers can potentially damage marine habitats, something that’s especially important for a coastal city such as Newport.
"(The ordinance is) focused on a lot of single-use products that are used quickly for a short period of time and then thrown out," said Parker. "And that tends to be some of the products that are most often littered and get into the waterways.”
Council members approved the ordinance 5-0. It takes effect on March 31, 2022.
