From:Packaging News

Dart Products Europe has welcomed the ruling from the New York State Supreme Court overturning the city’s ban on foam foodservice packaging.

New York City outlawed foam food packaging earlier this year, ignoring representations demonstrating that polystyrene is 100% recyclable and there is a market for the recycled product.  Dart Product Europe’s parent company, Dart Container Corporation, was party to the legal case which saw the Judge marking the ruling as excessive and ignoring positive environmental benefits.

Anne Sutton, vice president for sustainability at Dart Products Europe said: “We welcome that the New York Supreme Court has recognised that there is a role for foam in foodservice packaging that, once used, it is a fully recyclable option and that there is a market for this post-consumer packaging.  This case shows that accurate science has prevailed over political whim.   We hope that UK cities which may be considering taking similar action will consult with bodies such as the Foodservice Packaging Association to make sure they get the facts right.

“Our industry has worked hard and invested significantly in recent years in order to ensure post-consumer polystyrene is fully recyclable and it is economic to do so.”

Dart Container Corporation has offered to pay the start-up costs of the New York City recycling programme and is willing to work with the city to implement a comprehensive recycling programme.

The company already operates a foam recycling facility for used rigid foam and single serve foodservice items at its Cradley Heath manufacturing plant.