Farewell to Foam Act of 2025

This legislation aims to significantly reduce plastic waste by prohibiting the sale and distribution of certain expanded polystyrene products. Beginning on January 1, 2028 , it will ban expanded polystyrene food service ware , expanded polystyrene loose fill , and expanded polystyrene coolers across the United States. These prohibitions apply to manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and food service providers. The bill specifically defines expanded polystyrene food service ware to include items like bowls, plates, cups, and clamshells used for serving prepared food. Expanded polystyrene loose fill refers to packaging peanuts, while expanded polystyrene coolers are portable containers for cold storage. Notably, coolers intended for drugs, medical devices, or biological products are explicitly excluded from this ban. Enforcement of the Act falls under the purview of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) . For a first violation, the EPA will issue a written notification. Subsequent violations will incur civil penalties, starting at $250 for a second offense, $500 for a third, and $1,000 for a fourth and any subsequent violations. The bill also includes limitations on how frequently penalties can be imposed, based on the annual revenue of the offending entity, and allows for potential state-level enforcement.