http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/nyregion/new-york-council-votes-to-ban-foam-food-containers-and-to-curb-e-cigarette-smoking.html

New York Council Votes to Ban Foam Food Containers and to Curb 
E-Cigarette Smoking
By KIA GREGORY
Published: December 19, 2013

In its last scheduled legislative session of the year, the New York City 
Council passed major health and environmental regulations on Thursday, 
establishing a ban on plastic-foam food service containers, extending 
the city’s ban on public smoking to cover e-cigarettes and requiring 
composting at large restaurants.

The plastic-foam measure was a final victory of sorts for Mayor Michael 
R. Bloomberg, though it came with a caveat. In his State of the City 
address this year, Mr. Bloomberg said the plastic-foam containers were 
virtually impossible to recycle, and environmentalists have long 
complained that the foam cups, trays and containers, stained by 
beverages, grease and food, were needlessly clogging landfills.