Expanded polystyrene food service containers; prohibition, civil penalty.

Expanded polystyrene food service containers; prohibition; civil penalty. Prohibits the dispensing by a food vendor of prepared food to a customer in a single-use expanded polystyrene food service container, as defined in the bill, beginning January 1, 2021. The bill exempts certain institutions, including correctional facilities and public schools, from the definition of "food vendor" and provides a process by which a locality may grant consecutive one-year exemptions to individual food vendors on the basis of undue economic hardship. The bill provides a civil penalty of $50 for each day of violation, to be collected in a civil action brought by the Attorney General or the relevant locality. The bill directs the penalties collected to the Litter Control and Recycling Fund or to the treasury of the relevant locality, as appropriate. Finally, the bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to post on its website information on compliance and the filing of complaints. This bill was incorporated into HB 533.