A family member connected to the world’s largest manufacturer of polystyrene cups and food trays pumped $38,535 into the campaign accounts of 14 city politicians in a bid to block a proposed ban on its foam products, records show.
The donations were given by Ariane Dart, wife of Dart Container CEO Robert Dart, starting in April.
The cascade of campaign cash came after Mayor Bloomberg proposed banning Styrofoam from the city’s waste stream.
A bill was later introduced in the City Council, which held a hearing on the issue this week.
Among Dart’s donations was $3,850 to Councilman Robert Jackson, who ran for Manhattan borough president earlier this year.
Jackson subsequently offered his own bill to recycle dirty foam products — as Dart is advocating — instead of banning them.
Jackson railed against the foam ban during the council hearing Monday. But he insisted Dart’s contributions didn’t influence his thinking.
“Not one iota,” Jackson said. “I’m in favor of recycling, not banning. This ban is going to hurt small businesses.”
The Dart contributions didn’t sway other powerful pols, including Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio, Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Public Advocate-elect Letitia James, who all favor the ban.
Ariane Dart and Dart Container declined to comment.