Alaska Legislature passes polystyrene ban bill, sending it to the governor

By AI, Created 4:10 PM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – Alaska lawmakers approved HB 25 with bipartisan support, moving the bill to Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s desk for a final decision. The measure would phase out polystyrene food service ware and containers, with advocates saying it protects public health, waterways and businesses while giving companies until January 2027 to comply.

Why it matters: - HB 25 would phase out polystyrene food service ware and containers in Alaska. - Supporters say the measure would reduce exposure to styrene, cut plastic pollution in marine ecosystems and support businesses using safer alternatives. - The bill is set to take effect in January 2027, giving businesses time to use existing inventory and switch packaging.

What happened: - The Alaska Legislature passed HB 25 with bipartisan support. - The bill now goes to Gov. Mike Dunleavy for his signature or veto. - American Sustainable Business Network submitted written testimony in support of HB 25 on May 10, 2026, before the Alaska Senate Labor and Commerce Committee. - ASBN delivered the testimony at the invitation of Alaska Community Action on Toxics. - ASBN called on Dunleavy to sign the bill into law.

The details: - The testimony came from Martin Wolf, ASBN’s senior advisor on safer chemicals. - Wolf said styrene, the chemical building block of polystyrene, is classified as a human carcinogen. - Wolf said styrene can leach into food from polystyrene packaging. - Wolf said polystyrene breaks down into microplastics that enter Alaska’s marine ecosystems and food chain. - Wolf said polystyrene does not degrade for hundreds of years. - Green Alaska Solutions told legislators that safer alternatives are widely available and can be cost-neutral or cost-positive for food establishments. - Green Alaska Solutions also said Alaska businesses making the transition have reported up to a 15% increase in repeat customers. - More than a dozen states, including California, Oregon, New York and Colorado, have enacted similar restrictions. - The bill includes exemptions for food prepared outside Alaska and for areas affected by disaster emergencies. - The measure would align Alaska with businesses that have already excluded polystyrene from their packaging.

Between the lines: - The debate is no longer about whether alternatives exist; the legislation assumes they do and focuses on how quickly Alaska can shift. - Backers are framing the bill as both an environmental rule and a competitive advantage for businesses that want to meet customer expectations. - The phased approach suggests lawmakers tried to balance pollution concerns with a transition period for restaurants and suppliers.

What’s next: - Dunleavy will decide whether to sign HB 25 into law. - If signed, Alaska businesses will have until January 2027 to adjust packaging and clear out inventory. - ASBN is asking Alaska businesses to join its membership effort and support policies that benefit commerce and communities. - More information is available at member benefits.