By Bobby Welber,
As of January 1, 2026, New York State has expanded the list of products you can’t sell or distribute across the state.
Experts say this will affect businesses and consumers across the Hudson Valley and the rest of the state.
New York’s Banned Items List Gets Bigger In 2026
The changes are part of a broader waste‑reduction push aimed at cutting pollution and limiting single‑use plastics that have long littered our communities and waterways.
For all the news that the Hudson Valley is sharing, make sure to follow Hudson Valley Post on Facebook, and download the Hudson Valley Post Mobile App
These new rules will change what you see on store shelves and in service settings up and down the Empire State.
Restaurants, convenience stores, grocery shops, and lodging providers throughout our region will need to adjust what they stock and how they operate
Styrofoam Coolers and Food Containers
New York State previously banned disposable polystyrene foam food service containers. The ban includes foam cups, plates, trays, and packing “peanuts.”
Now the ban gets larger.
As of January 1, no covered food service provider, manufacturer, or retailer will be allowed to sell, offer for sale, or distribute expanded polystyrene foam containers designed for cold storage, including coolers, ice chests, and similar products.
Goodbye Tiny Plastic Toiletries in Hotels
In another change taking effect Jan. 1, small single‑use plastic bottles of personal care products, things like shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and lotions, will be banned in hotels, motels, boarding houses, and similar properties with fewer than 50 rooms.
Ban: These Baby Names Are No Longer Legal In New York
The reason for this change is that these tiny bottles are symbolic of waste. They are often thrown out after one use and end up in landfills or as microplastic pollution.
The expanded restriction is meant to encourage refillable or reusable options and cut down on needless trash from hospitality stays.
Keep Reading:
Banned Baby Names in New York And the United States
Banned Baby Names in New York And United States
Santa Claus
You won’t get away with trying to name your baby Santa Claus. Would you ever think to name your baby after Santa?
Jesus Christ
Naming your kid Jesus Christ is a big no-no. Should you be allowed to name your baby Jesus?
Adolf Hitler
For what should be obvious reasons Adolf Hitler is banned. Hopefully this doesn’t surprise anyone.
Messiah
Like Jesus Christ, you can’t name your baby Messiah. Or as mentioned above, Santa or Hitler.
@
Though some have tried the @ symbol is not an approved name. Sorry Prince.
III
Like @ III won’t pass the test. With this name would you call your kid “Three” “The Third” or something different?
Queen
You may treat your baby like a Queen. But sorry to say you can’t name your baby Queen.
Majesty
Majesty is another banned name in the United States. Do you agree with this ban?
1069
1069 is another banned name. I would like to meet the parents who tried to name their child this.
King
You can treat your child like a King, you just can’t use it as a name. Same as Queen.
New York State
Besides the names above, New York State doesn’t allow the first and middle names of your child to be longer than 30 characters each. Imagine having to write that name in school!
New York State
New York State won’t allow you to name your kid with a number. Maybe this rule came about due to the 1069 name attempt?
New York State
New York State also won’t allow you to name your kid with a symbol. Once again, sorry Prince!
New York State
New York State also doesn’t allow the last name to be more than 40 characters. This would also be very annoying to write out each day in school.
6 Vehicles That Are Banned From New York Roads
6 Vehicles That Are Banned From New York Roads
These six vehicles are prohibited from being operated on New York roads. Gallery Credit: Canva/Unsplash City of Poughkeepsie Police Department Via Facebook
Dirt Bikes
An Off-road Motorcycle (Dirt Bike) designed for use on off-road trails or in off-road competitions.
Mini-bike
A small, motorized device with two wheels and created for off-road use. A mini-bike doesn’t qualify as a moped, a motorcycle, or an ATV.
Lawnmower
A self-propelled machine operated by a person in a seated or standing position originally or primarily designed for cutting grass on a lawn.
Golf Cart
A Golf Cart, also referred to as Golf Car or Neighborhood Electric Vehicle is a small motorized device with three or four wheels designed to carry people. Many low-speed vehicles are similar in appearance to a golf cart and can be registered and driven on New York State highways.
Go-Kart
A small, motorized device with four wheels, created for off-road use.
KEI-Class Vehicles
A class of lightweight vehicles, made in Japan. A KEI-Class vehicle cannot be registered or titled in New York State.
19 Items Absolutely Banned from Checked Bags at New York Airports
19 Items Absolutely Banned from Checked Bags at New York Airports
You may be familiar with what you can and cannot pack in your carry-on. But how familiar with items banned from your checked luggage? These are 19 of the more than 50 items that can’t fly in your checked bag according to the TSA. Gallery Credit: Dave Wheeler21
Alcoholic Beverages Over 140 Proof
Did you find a beer or wine you like while traveling? If under 24% alcohol, it doesn’t matter what size it is, you can put it in your checked luggage. If it’s 24-70% alcohol, you can check it if it’s five liters or less and unopened.
If it’s some STRONG alcohol over 140 proof (you know, like Everclear) it’s not allowed to fly in your checked bag. In fact, if it’s not allowed on the plane. You can’t bring it in a checked bag either.
Bear Spray
Hiking or camping on your trip? Plan on picking up bear spray, if you need it, once you reach your destination. It’s not allowed in your checked bag OR your carry-on bag.
Cordless Curling Iron
Wait. Cordless curling irons are a thing?! And we’re just now finding out about them?! They sound magical. But because they require lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries OR are fueled by butane cartridges, they’re NOT allowed in your checked luggage. Same goes for cordless flat irons.
However, if you have a safety cover over the heating element and the device is protected from accidental activation, you can pack it in your carry-on.
Cooking Spray
Most extended-stay hotels have cute little kitchenettes and the cookware you need to prepare your own food. That can certainly cut down on how much you spend on dining while traveling BUT if you want to spray your pans with cooking spray so the food doesn’t stick, buy this once you reach your destination. Checked baggage or carry-on, it’s NOT allowed on the plane.
English Christmas Crackers
The problem with the TSA website is that it’s text-based. It doesn’t include pictures of the prohibited items, so we were confused why crackers wouldn’t be allowed on a plane when so many other foods are. Well, that’s because English Christmas Crackers aren’t edible. They’re a decorative cardboard tube with a gift inside. There’s a chemically treated paper strip inside that causes a popping sound, puff of smoke and blows the tube open.
Makes sense why the TSA doesn’t want this on a plane. It’s not permitted in your checked baggage OR your carry-on.
Live Fish
Imagine you bought a beta fish that turned out to be a pretty good companion while you were living in a college dorm. Naturally, you’d want it to come home with you for Spring Break or Summer Recess. Well, it can’t travel as a checked bag. You can bring it as a carry-on if it’s in water and a clear transparent container that passes inspection by a TSA officer.
Somewhat ironically, the TSA website does list live lobster as approved to fly in a checked bag. They suggest checking your airline’s policy before arriving with your lobster at the airport.
Live Coral
Live corals are subject to the same rules as live fish. They’re not allowed in your checked luggage.
Medically Necessary Personal Oxygen
Don’t worry. The TSA doesn’t want passengers who need personal oxygen to keel over midflight. There are FAA-approved battery-powered, personal oxygen concentrators that pull air from the cabin and purify it instead of using oxygen from tanks. Some airlines require you to notify them 48 hours before your flight to use it. Actual oxygen tanks? Not permitted in your checked baggage.
Power Banks
If you have an older cell phone whose battery dies quickly, you may want to bring one of these along to make sure you don’t miss any calls/texts or important photo opportunities during your trip. Because they have lithium-ion batteries, they’re NOT permitted in your checked luggage. You can bring them in your carry-on.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
Listen, this phone is old. It was originally released in 2016. Chances are if you had one, you’ve upgraded by now. These phones had a serious battery defect that would cause the phones to overheat and eventually combust or explode. The phone was eventually recalled. The TSA and FAA banned it from flying in checked baggage, carry-on bags and cargo places on October 16, 2016.
Spray Starch
That “just dry-cleaned” look can be hard to achieve after your shirt has been folded in a tightly packed suitcase for hours. If you plan on using spray starch to achieve it, you’ll have to buy this after you land. This is banned in both checked baggage and carry-ons.
Bang Snaps
We always called these “Snap Pops” and they were the only thing our overprotective parents let us play with around the Fourth of July. Since they have explosive powder inside you can’t bring them in your checked bags. Actually, you can’t bring them in your carry-on either.
Dynamite
We literally can’t think of a single good reason you’d be flying with dynamite to start with. The TSA bans it in your checked luggage AND your carry-on.
Realistic Replicas of Explosives
As cosplayers, this fascinates us. We’ve yet to fly with our replica gun, but apparently, that’s allowed in ONLY checked baggage. Just know that if you do that, you’re probably going to get your luggage searched when they scan it.
Replica explosives like grenades? Those are totally banned. Don’t bring them in your checked baggage or your carry-on.
Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Devices
Due to their lithium-ion or lithium-metal batteries, you are NOT allowed to pack them in your checked luggage.
If your lithium-ion battery is under 100 Wh or your lithium metal battery contains less than 2 grams of lithium, you can take them into the cabin with you. You just have to be careful not to activate the heating element.
Lighter Fluid
Are you THE guy when it comes to grilling up burgers and dogs at the family reunion? Well, then you’ll have to buy this after you arrive at your destination. It’s banned from checked bags and carry-on bags.
Safety Matches
Because they require a certain surface to strike, these are less likely to actually catch fire. Still, the TSA does NOT allow these in your checked luggage. You can pack a single book of them in your carry-on if you want to.
Recreational Oxygen
We’ve never tried it, but we know there are oxygen bars all over the strip in Vegas. Some people use them to help combat hangovers. Athletes like to use them before, during and after workouts to improve performance and recovery. We didn’t know there was a personal version of those, but there is and it’s not allowed in your checked luggage. Or your carry-on.
Party Poppers
Bachelorette weekend? Graduation surprise? Buy these once you arrive. Because of the explosive powder inside they’re not allowed in your checked baggage or carry-on baggage.