The General Assembly鈥檚 Environment Committee passed a bill on March 24 that will ban plastic utensils, straws, stirrers, and polystyrene food containers starting in 2026 in an effort to remove plastics from the waste stream. According to聽Committee Bill 6229, no state or municipal agency, vendor with a government contract, school, business or food vendor shall sell, use, purchase or provide any food containers composed of polystyrene, packing peanuts, or 鈥渁ny single use plastic cutlery, straw, plastic stirrer, splash stick or food ware accessory, except that a single use plastic straw may be provided, upon request, to persons with disabilities and shall be made available at pharmacies and medical facilities.鈥�
The bill, which is co-sponsored by a long roster of House Democrats, received ample support from many environmental groups who argue polystyrene products, like Styrofoam, break down into microplastics that remain in the environment and drinking water, and that plastic utensils are not recyclable. The move comes after Connecticut banned single-use plastic grocery bags in 2021.