WAILUKU, Hawaii >> A Maui County Council committee will consider a bill that would ban disposable plastic foam food containers.

The Infrastructure and Environmental Management Committee is scheduled to consider the bill Monday. The bill would prohibit food establishments and vendors from using or selling polystyrene containers.

The containers are now widely used to serve plate lunches.

Maui food providers would be able to apply for a one-year exemption if they can show no reasonable alternatives are available or if complying with a ban would cause significant economic hardship.

The Honolulu City Council is considering a similar bill. The Oahu bill would require plates, cups, bowls, trays and other food containers to be compostable.

Signs were recently posted at the entrance of a Kauai town saying, “Welcome to Kilauea. A Styrofoam Free Community.”