This afternoon, the D.C. City Council unanimously voted to pass a bill that bans D.C. eateries from using expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, also known as Styrofoam. This bill affects our rivers because one in every four pieces of trash collected from D.C. rivers is EPS foam.
*THANK YOU* to all of our members and supporters for your help in this campaign, including everyone who contacted their councilmember to express support for this bill. We also want to thank the City Councilmembers for their votes in support of this bill. If you'd like to tweet a thank you to your councilmember for their vote in support of this bill, visit the updated banthefoam.org.
Banning EPS foam at the source will prevent it from harming our beautiful, local rivers.
Speaking of our beautiful local rivers, if you want to enjoy one of those rivers tomorrow (Tuesday, July 15), we're having an after-work paddle at 6:15pm (weather permitting)...come join us and celebrate this epic victory! Details (and weather updates) here.
The bill must still be signed by the mayor and approved by Congress, but we are hopeful that both steps will be met without resistance. Nonetheless, we are watching to ensure both steps are completed and the bill becomes law.
The DC Chapter worked in coalition with a number of excellent organizations in the D.C. area to support the passage of this bill. We want to take this opportunity to thank them: DC chapter of the Sierra Club, Trash Free Maryland, D.C. Environmental Network, Institute of Local Self-Reliance, Energy Justice Network, Alice Ferguson Foundation, Anacostia Watershed Society, Clean Water Action, Anacostia Riverkeeper and Sustainable Community Initiatives.