San Rafael, CA – After a year and a half in the works, a draft ordinance on reusable foodware used by food-related businesses is ready for public discussion. An online public workshop is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 14, when County of Marin staff and consultants will go over the draft ordinance and seek feedback from residents and businesses.
The virtual session, expected to last 90 minutes, will be on Zoom (meeting ID: 940 5166 5752; Passcode: 371036). It can be accessed by phone at (699) 900-6833.
The use of reusable utensils, such as those made of wood, are gaining in popularity as consumers try to avoid throwing away unrecyclable plastics into landfills.In 2019, the County conducted an online survey to explore a ban on single-use plastic food service products at retail businesses. There were 310 responses to the survey and 90% were in favor of requiring food vendors to use foodware that is reusable, recyclable, or compostable. The ordinance would require the use of reusable and compostable foodware materials such as plates, bowls, cups, utensils, and trays at restaurants, grocery stores, delis, bakeries, carry-out vendors, minimarts, farmers markets, food trucks, and more food outlets. It would only affect such businesses operating in unincorporated Marin; it’s up to each town and city to establish its own policy.
The draft ordinance is expected to be placed before the Marin County Board of Supervisors later this year or early next year. The Marin County Community Development Agency (CDA) has worked on the ordinance, namely staff from the Sustainability Division and the Environmental Health Division.
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 EarthCare Compost Facility at the Redwood Landfill & Recycling Center north of Novato, does not accept many commonly labeled compostable materials such as bio-plastics. Also, franchised refuse companies around Marin accept slightly different materials for recycling, composting, or hazardous waste disposal and have different strategies for outreach to the community.
Plastic waste is a large portion of the debris polluting rivers, streams, and the ocean. Reduction of plastics at the source by encouraging re-use and recyclable or compostable materials would reduce debris and improve environmental conditions.
In 2009, the County banned polystyrene foam in food packaging by restaurants, retail food vendors, and County facilities within the unincorporated areas of Marin. Fairfax, San Rafael, Novato, Mill Valley and Sausalito subsequently adopted their own bans. The Environmental Health Division enforces the ordinances via its food facility inspection program.
An updated County ordinance 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 being the best to use, compostable fiber foodware being compliant, and single-use plastics being prohibited.
Adoption of the ordinance could present adjustments for businesses, so County officials are intent on establishing a transition period to help affected vendors with technical assistance and compliance with new requirements prior to a site inspection.
“We are aware that most food-related businesses are still in recovery mode from COVID-19 restrictions and other challenges, so we are proceeding thoughtfully and respectfully with the development of the ordinance,” said CDA Deputy Director Gregory Pirie, who leads the Environmental Health Division.
If the ordinance is approved, staff work with other municipalities to seek countywide adoption of the ordinance.