By Clay Moden
If you’re a fan of the old-school Styrofoam coolers your parents used throughout the 1980s and 1990s, it’s time to say goodbye. As the summer heat rolls on and we head into August, here’s a reminder about a new law that took effect earlier this year in New York State.
Memories of Summer Trips to the Adirondacks
I remember when we were kids, my father would drive us to the Adirondacks for a good portion of every summer. My mother grew up in Saranac Lake, New York, and spending time there remains one of my favorite childhood memories.
When the cooler mornings and evenings arrive during the summer, I’m immediately taken back to sitting with my family on my grandmother’s front porch, overlooking the mountains as the morning mist rolled through the valley.
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Those memories also include my father stopping along the way to fill a cooler with ice, beer, and pop. That cooler was nothing more than a Styrofoam shell held together with masking tape. To this day, I can still hear the unmistakable sound of that Styrofoam cooler bouncing around in the back seat, with ice and cans splashing as we made our way to the Adirondacks.
New York State Expands Ban on Styrofoam Products
New York State has continued to push for environmentally friendly policies in recent years. One of those efforts includes expanding restrictions on certain single-use plastic and foam products.
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That ban now includes Styrofoam, also known as expanded polystyrene (EPS) or foam coolers. The disposable coolers that many of us grew up using for camping trips, picnics, family reunions, and summer vacations have disappeared from store shelves across New York.
“On January 1, 2026, New York State’s Foam Ban expanded from disposable food service containers and packing peanuts to include a ban on polystyrene foam coolers and other polystyrene foam containers designed or intended to be used for cold storage”.
Remember When Every Trip Started With a Foam Cooler?
How many coolers does one family really need?
Every time I walk into our basement, garage, or shed, I seem to find another one. We have four kids, so we use smaller coolers for lunches all the time, but I’m still not sure why we own so many larger coolers.
You know the kind, Igloo coolers with wheels or maybe even a couple of Yeti coolers.
When I was growing up, I only remember buying a cooler when we actually needed one. We’d pick up a cheap Styrofoam cooler at the local pharmacy, convenience store, or gas station before heading out for the weekend.
What This Means for New York Families
There’s still plenty of summer left, along with county fairs, festivals, camping trips, and family vacations.
If you’re planning to pack lunches, snacks, or drinks for the kids, don’t expect to find those disposable Styrofoam coolers that many of us remember from childhood. Thanks to New York’s expanded foam product ban, they’re no longer available for sale, marking the end of a familiar summer tradition for many families.