On the heels of a proposed ban on single-use plastic bags, a bill has been introduced in the Northern Marianas House of Representatives seeking to ban styrofoam food containers.
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The bill proposes prohibiting the use of certain styrofoam containers, beginning in two years.
These include those used for take-out foods, packaged meat, eggs and bakery products.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the International Agency for Research on Cancer say styrofoam may be carcinogenic.
It also has a wide environmental impact with about 80 percent of styrofoam ending up in landfills or waterways.
CNMI legislation on a plastic bag ban is still to be passed.