Reusable Foodware Ordinance
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About the Project
Under current rules, only a limited amount of synthetic material can be composted in Marin; the rest goes into a landfill. The county’s largest waste product processor, the WM EarthCareTM Compost Facility at the Redwood Landfill & Recycling Center near Novato, does not accept many commonly labeled compostable materials such as bio-plastics.
The goal of the project is to develop an updated County ordinance that would define alternative materials that would be acceptable for composting, include language about consistent implementation of the policy, and lay out a coordination plan with the local food service industry. The ordinance will use the hierarchy of: reusables are best, compostable fiber foodware is compliant, and single-use plastics are prohibited. Reducing the amount of disposable items we consume not only is better for the environment, it reduces the amount of litter in the community and lowers the amount of greenhouse gas inputs used to produce the disposable product in the first place.
It's Time To Say Goodbye to Single-Use Plastic Foodware (flyer)
Updates
The Reusable Foodware Ordinance is temporarily only hold as the County and our local food service industry respond to the COVID-19 emergency.
The County is still accepting comments on the Draft Reusable Foodware Ordinance. Please send comments to Dana Armanino, Sustainability Principal Planner.
To assist those in our food service industry that may be looking for alternatives to single use plastic foodware, the County has developed a list of recommended alternative materials and information on accessing and pricing.