A New York Supreme Court judge has overturned New York City's ban on plastic foam containers.
In a decision made public Tuesday, Margaret Chan found the city Department of Sanitation's commissioner's order banning the product to be arbitrary and capricious. The ban was spearheaded by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg and supported by current Mayor Bill de Blasio . It went into effect July 1.
Officials estimate 28,500 tons of dirty plastic foam end up in city landfills every year.
In April, a group of manufacturers, recyclers and restaurants sued to stop the ban. They argued the containers could be effectively recycled in a way that saves the city money.
Chan found the city could save $400,000 recycling 40 percent of its wasted plastic foam.
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