HILO — Those foam food to-go containers? Soon to be gone.

A polystyrene food container ban took a big leap forward Thursday, when the County Council moved a bill to its final reading.

The council voted 7-2 to approve Bill 13 on first reading. A second reading will be held later this month.

The ban, which covers what is popularly known as “Styrofoam” plate lunch containers, coffee cups and soup bowls, has taken several forms over the past two years, overlapping two council terms, taking two trips to the Environmental Management Commission and discussed at length in two task forces.

“It’s a first step,” said Puna Councilwoman Eileen O’Hara, sponsor of the bill.

“This is a responsible piece of legislation that takes a toxic product out of our environment and out of the food we eat,” added Puna Councilwoman Jen Ruggles.