California Attorney General Issues Enforcement Advisory Reminding Businesses Not to Sell Polystyrene Foam in California
Beyond Plastics Applauds Attorney General Rob Bonta’s Actions to Protect Environment and Californians’ Health
For Immediate Release: December 8, 2025
Contacts:
Melissa Valliant, Beyond Plastics — melissavalliant@bennington.edu, (410) 829-0726
Susan Keefe, Beyond Plastics — susankeefe@bennington.edu, (510) 282-5964
Nearly one year after California’s ban on polystyrene foam took effect under Senate Bill 54, illegal products are still widely available across the state. On December 2, 2025, California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an enforcement advisory to producers of polystyrene foam food service ware, warning them that continued sales, distribution, or importation of these products in or into California violates state law.
“We commend Attorney General Rob Bonta’s actions to protect Californians from plastic pollution,” said Susan Keefe, Southern California director at Beyond Plastics. “California banned polystyrene foam because it significantly contributes to plastic pollution, endangering the health and safety of Californians and our environment. Businesses across the state have had more than three years to transition to less harmful products — time’s up.”
The advisory comes as major retailers — including Los Angeles–based Chedraui USA, parent company of Smart & Final and El Super — continue to stock polystyrene foam cups, plates, bowls, and containers from manufacturers such as WinCup, along with their own private-label products. Polystyrene foam products also remain available for shipment into California from e-commerce retailers, including Amazon and KaTom Restaurant Supply. These ongoing sales undermine the statewide ban that took effect after producers failed to demonstrate the 25% recycling rate required by state law, SB 54.
In June 2025, Beyond Plastics and 93 environmental organizations and businesses urged Governor Gavin Newsom and CalRecycle to enforce the law after aisles of polystyrene foam products remained available months into the ban. The Los Angeles Times also reported on the widespread noncompliance across major retailers. Despite growing public pressure, illegal sales continued in many stores statewide.
Polystyrene foam is among the most harmful forms of plastic pollution affecting California communities. Lightweight and brittle, it often breaks into tiny pieces that easily scatter into waterways and the environment. Marine animals often mistake the fragments for food, while the material’s key ingredient — styrene — is a probable human carcinogen and has been linked to neurological and vision problems. Toxic chemicals in polystyrene foam may also leach into food and beverages, especially when heated.
California enacted the polystyrene foam food service ware ban when SB 54 was adopted in 2022. The polystyrene foam producers failed to meet the state’s requirement to demonstrate a 25% recycling rate for the material by January 1, 2025. As a result, polystyrene foam food service ware may not be sold, offered for sale, distributed, or imported into the state. The Attorney General’s enforcement advisory reiterates that violators may face substantial penalties for noncompliance.
For more information on health impacts associated with polystyrene foam, please see Beyond Plastics’ Polystyrene Foam Fact Sheet.
About Beyond Plastics
Launched in 2019, Beyond Plastics pairs the wisdom and experience of environmental policy experts with the energy and creativity of grassroots advocates to build a vibrant and effective movement to end plastic pollution. Using deep policy and advocacy expertise, Beyond Plastics is building a well-informed, effective movement seeking to achieve the institutional, economic, and societal changes needed to save our planet and ourselves, from the negative health, climate, and environmental impacts for the production, usage, and disposal of plastics.
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