A new year also means the start of some new laws for New Yorkers.

NYC 311, the official website of the City of New York, tweeted out a reminder that Styrofoam food containers are now banned in the five boroughs.

That includes take-out containers, cups, plates, bowls, and Styrofoam packing peanuts. The ban comes because Styrofoam can't be properly recycled.

Also, many Long Islanders are getting a raise in the new year as the minimum wage is going up to $12 dollars an hour. The minimum will continue to increase, eventually reaching $15 an hour by 2022. There are exceptions, including jobs where workers get regular tips.

Nationally, there is a major move towards gender diversity in the workplace. In California, a new law requires publicly traded companies based in that state to have at least one woman on their board of directors by the end of this new year.