Foam-Free New Hampshire!

UPDATE, MARCH 4, 2021

Unfortunately, the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Affairs voted against recommending HB618 for passage on March 3.

The report will be sent forthwith to the House floor for a vote, where it is anticipated that the Committee report will be accepted and the bill will die.

YOU CAN HELP by writing to your NH State House Representative and urging them to REJECT the Committee's recommendation, and vote to ADVANCE HB618!

Hit us up for contact emails if you'd like to take this action + could use a hand locating your Rep's email: nh@surfider.org

THIS CAMPAIGN DOES NOT END HERE! 

We will continue to bring legislation until we are successful! 

UPDATE, FEBRUARY 18, 2021

The new foam-free NH bill came to a public hearing before the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee on Tuesday, February 16, 2021, at 10:30AM. 

Our Northeast Regional Manager, NH Chapter Secretary, and members of our statewide coalition to reduce single-use plastics spoke, with Chairman Hunt noting that 113 people signed in to support the bill, while only 13 signed in to oppose.

Read HB618 and give a shout to learn more about engaging with us to support this effort: nh@surfrider.org

UPDATE JUNE 16, 2020

Pursuant to COVID-19 interruptions and the continued public health crisis, the State Senate voted to vacate from committee and lay on the table most bills not directly relevant to pandemic response, including HB1564.

This means that we will need to start fresh (again!) in a future session by introducing a new foam foodware ban bill. 

The good news is that we know that persistence pays off; in most instances of statewide plastics mitigation law, it took multiple session attempts before finally passing the law (think about the bag bans now in Maine, Washington, California and Hawaii). We are laying important groundwork now for future law in New Hampshire, and YOU can help!

Give a shout if you would like to learn more about current opportunities to keep momentum going: mgates@surfrider.org

SUMMARY of 2020 SESSION EVENTS

New Hampshire House Representative Judith Spang has introduced a bill that would ban polystyrene foam food packaging statewide! 

HB1564 came to hearing in the House on Thursday, 1/23/20 at 11AM before the House Commerce and Consumer Affairs Committee, Legislative Office Building, Room 302, 33 N State St, Concord, NH 03301. 

On March 11, 2020, the House voted to advance the bill favorably forward to the Senate, with slight amendment. See how your NH House Representative voted here, and consider sending an email of thanks or concern! 

Don't forget to fill out this online form to let Governor Sununu know that you want his support for this bill, which is a smart step forward for New Hampshire to take in the footsteps of our neighbors in Vermont and Maine to best protect our environment and human health. Given that the city of Portsmouth passed local legislation in 2019 to ban foam foodware citywide, set to take effect on 12-31-20, the State has a great opportunity to support what residents clearly want by passing HB1564! 

YOU CAN HELP!

Write to your NH State House Representative asking for support of our recommendations on HB1564! Email for contact details or to be added to a listserv for New Hampshire residents interested in reducing plastic pollution.

Thank you!