PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • December 22, 2020
State officials said Tuesday that they will delay enforcement of bans on single-use plastic carryout bags and disposable foam food containers that were scheduled to take effect next month. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused changes in consumer demand as well as disruptions in obtaining replacement materials that would make the ban difficult to enforce, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection said. The ban on disposable polystyrene food containers had been scheduled to take effect Jan. 1 and the ban on single-use plastic bags was to go into effect on Jan. 15. The DEP said it will delay enforcement of the bans until July 1.