Communities Restricting Polystyrene in Food Service Ware

Alameda, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 1/1/2008
– Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
– Requires food service ware to be biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable.
(https://www.municode.com/library/ca/alameda/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CHIVOFPUSA_ARTILIMAPR_4-4POFOFOSEWA)

Albany City – Polystyrene Ban – 9/1/2008
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable.
(http://www.albanyca.org/index.aspx?page=688)

Aliso Viejo, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 6/2/2004
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
(http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/AlisoViejo/ords/Ord%202004-060.pdf)

Berkeley, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 6/1/1990
-Prohibits polystyrene use in food service packaging.
(http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=11068)

Calabasas, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 4/1/2008
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be returnable, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or degradable.
(http://www.cityofcalabasas.com/environmental/calabasas-ordinance-2007-233.html)

Capitola, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 6/1/2009
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be biodegradable or compostable, unless it is shown that said product is not available for a specific application or does not exist.
(http://www.cityofcapitola.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/General/page/1429/2009foodservice.pdf)

Carmel, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 1/1/1989, revised 2008
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or degradable.
-No definitive website, but see controversial city responses:
(http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/CarmelbytheSea/html/Carmel08/Carmel0868.html#8.68)

Emeryville, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 3/1/2007
-Prohibits polystyrene or non-ASTM-Standard compostable plastic food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be returnable, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or degradable, unless it is shown that said product is not available for a specific application or does not exist (exemptions need to be approved by the city)
(http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=333)

Fairfax, CA – Polystyrene Banned – 1/1/1993
– Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging use and possession.
(http://www.town-of-fairfax.org/pdfs/finance/business_license/2010%20Ordinance%20reminder%20letter.pdf)
*Recently enacted a ban on plastic bags as well, requiring recyclable paper or reusable checkout bags by all shops, stores, and vendors (2008)

Freeport, ME – Polystyrene Ban – 1/1/1990
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
*Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging at all state facilities and functions
(www.freeportmaine.com/codes/chap33.doc)

Glen Cove, NY – Polystyrene Ban – 6/1/1989
-Prohibits the use of plastics, specifically polystyrene and polyvinylchloride food service packaging.
-No definitive website, but see the New York Post article:
(http://www.nytimes.com/1989/10/22/nyregion/glen-cove-acts-to-update-environmental-laws.html?pagewanted=1)

Hecules, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 5/1/2008
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging “utensils”.
(www.ci.hercules.ca.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=95)

Huntington Beach, CA – Partial Polystyrene Ban – 4/19/2004
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging at all city facilities and functions
(http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/files/users/city_clerk/041904sm-rm.pdf)

Laguna Beach, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 7/1/2008
-Prohibits polystyrene and non-recyclable plastic food service packaging.
-Exemptions by the city are allowed if imposed prohibitions create an undue hardship upon a vendor.
(http://www.lagunabeachcity.net/faqs/categoryqna.asp?id=6)

Los Angeles, CA – Partial Styrofoam Ban –Pending
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging by county agencies and concessionaries
-No definitive website, but check out local radio news story:
(http://dpw.lacounty.gov/epd/drp/EPS%20Board%20Letter_signed.pdf)

Malibu, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 7/1/2005
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
(http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/AlisoViejo/ords/Ord%202004-060.pdf)

Milbrae, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 1/1/2008
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging
-All city facilities are prohibited from using or purchasing polystyrene food service packaging
-Prohibits inpiduals and organizations using city offices or property from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be returnable, biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or degradable.
-Exemptions by the city are allowed if imposed prohibitions create an undue hardship upon a vendor.
(www.ci.millbrae.ca.us/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=395)

Monterey, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 8/17/2009
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or degradable.
-Exemptions by the city are allowed if imposed prohibitions create an undue hardship upon a vendor.
(http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Monterey/html/Monterey14.html)

Newport Beach, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 6/1/2009
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
(http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/NewportBeach/html/NewportBeach06/NewportBeach0605.html)

Oakland, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 1/1/2007
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or degradable.
(http://clerkwebsvr1.oaklandnet.com/attachments/13659.pdf)

Pacific Grove, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 6/1/2008
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
-No definitive website but check out this related article:
(http://www.pacebutler.com/blog/pacific-grove-ca-bans-polystyrene-packaging/)

Pacifica, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 1/1/2010
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
-No credible website available at the moment.

Palo Alto, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 4/22/2010
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-Prohibits city facilities, city managed concessions, city sponsored events, and city permitted events from using polystyrene food service packaging.
(http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/news/displaynews.asp?NewsID=1277&TargetID=286)

Pittsburg, CA – Partial Polystyrene Ban – 1/1/1993
-At least 50% of the volume of all food service packaging used must be returnable or recyclable to phase out CFC-produced polystyrene food service packaging.
(http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Pittsburg/html/Pittsburg08/Pittsburg0806.html)

Portland, OR – Polystyrene Ban – 6/12/1990
-Restaurants, grocery stores and other retail vendors have been prohibited from using polystyrene foam (PSF) containers for prepared food.
-The ban also applies to vendors who renew a lease or initially lease city space and activities that require a city permit.
(http://chinsimport.com/Downloads/PDX%20Styrofoam%20ban.pdf)

Rahway, NJ – Polystyrene Ban – 12/1/1996
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be biodegradable, compostable, recyclable, or degradable.
(http://besafenet.com/pvc/documents/pvc_and_pbt_policies.pdf)

Richmond, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 7/1/2010
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires reusable food service packaging.
(http://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=5489)

San Bruno, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 4/1/2010
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-All city departments and agencies shall not purchase or acquire disposable food service ware made from polystyrene for use at city facilities.
-Requires food service ware to be biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable.
-Exemptions by the city are allowed if imposed prohibitions create an undue hardship upon a vendor.
(http://www.sanbrunorecycles.ca.gov/images/poly_ordinance.pdf)

San Clemente, CA – Partial Polystyrene Ban – 3/1/2004
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-All city facilities, city-managed concessions, city-sponsored events, city permitted
events and all franchisees, contractors and vendors doing business with the City are prohibited from using disposable food service ware made from expanded polystyrene or non-recyclable plastic
-Exemptions by the city are allowed if imposed prohibitions create an undue hardship upon a vendor.
(http://www.san-clemente.org/home/showdocument?id=9824)

San Francisco, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 6/1/2007
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be compostable or recyclable.
(http://www.sfenvironment.com/our_programs/interests.html?ssi=3&ti=6&ii=127)

San Jose, CA – Partial Polystyrene Ban – 11/10/2009
-Prohibits polystyrene food service packaging at ‘large’ special events on city property.
-No definitive website, but check out this related article:
(http://www.greenerpackage.com/regulations/list_cities_banning_polystyrene_grows)

San Juan County, WA – Polystyrene Ban – 4/22/2010
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging except food service business that sell or otherwise provide food to their customers in prepackaged expanded polystyrene containers that have been filled and sealed prior to receipt by the food service businesses or that sell or otherwise provide to their customers meat, fish, or shellfish products in or on containers made wholly or partially of expanded polystyrene.
(sanjuanco.com/council/docs/ordinances/2010/Ordinance%201-2010.pdf)

San Mateo County – Partial Polystyrene Ban – 4/1/2008
-No County department will purchase or otherwise acquire non-recyclable plastic disposable food service ware for use in, on, or at a County facility.
-No food service provider shall use non-recyclable plastic disposable food service ware when providing prepared food at a County facility or County event wherever located.
(http://www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/bos.dir/BosAgendas/agendas2008/Agenda20080226/20080226_o_10.html)

Santa Cruz, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 10/18/2008
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-Requires food service ware to be biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable.
-No definitive website but check out this article:
(http://www.cawrecycles.org/whats_new/recycling_news/jan31_sccountyps)

Santa Monica, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 2/9/2008
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-All city facilities, city-managed concessions, city-sponsored events, city permitted
events are prohibited form using polystyrene food service products.
-Exemptions by the city are allowed if imposed prohibitions create an undue hardship upon a vendor.
(http://www.smgov.net/uploadedFiles/Departments/OSE/Business/SMMC_2216.pdf)

A good explanatory website:
http://www.smgov.net/Departments/OSE/Business/Non-Recyclable_Food_Service_Container_Ban.aspx

Scotts Valley, CA – Polystyrene Ban – 6/17/2009
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-No definitive website, but check out the attached link:
(http://www.beachapedia.org/State_of_the_Beach)

Seattle, WA – Polystyrene Ban – 7/1/2010
-Prohibits polystyrene food service products
-Requires food service products to be compostable or recyclable.
-In addition, businesses that have customer dining area disposal stations where customers discard single use packaging must collect recyclable and compostable packaging in clearly labeled bins and send to a recycling or composting facility for processing.
(http://clerk.seattle.gov/~scripts/nph-brs.exe?d=CODE&s1=21.36.084.snum.&Sect5=CODE1&Sect6=HITOFF&l=20&p=1&u=%2F~public%2Fcode1.htm&r=1&f=L3%3B1%3B21.36.084.SNUM.)

Sonoma, CA – Partial Polystyrene Ban – 1/1/1989
-Prohibits any person from willfully possessing, giving, receiving, lending,
offering or exposing for sale, delivering, furnishing, transferring or
disposing of polystyrene foam food packaging on county premises.
-Currently no definitive website

Suffolk County, NY – Polystyrene Banned – 1/1/1998
-Prohibits the use of polystyrene foam (PS foam) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) for food packaging in restaurants, bars, delis, roadside stands, grocery stores, and other retail food establishments.
Useful link: (http://www.mindfully.org/Plastic/Suffolk-Co-NY-Ban.htm#amend)

Takoma Park, MD – Partial Polystyrene Ban – 6/10/2010
-The City shall cease purchasing polystyrene (resin code #6) food service ware.
-Organizers of public events, businesses, families and inpiduals in Takoma Park are encouraged to seek and use alternatives to polystyrene (resin code #6) food service ware.
-Effective September 1, 2010
http://www.youngactivistclub.org/home/takoma-park-city-council-resolution-restricting-polystyrene
http://cityclerk-takomapark.s3.amazonaws.com/ordinances/2014/or2014062.pdf

Ventura County, CA – Partial Polystyrene Ban – 10/1/2004
-The use of expandable polystyrene food service products is prohibited by vendors, franchisees, lessees, contractors or other commercial food and beverage purveyors on the Rincon.
-The use or distribution of expandable polystyrene food service products at special events at the Rincon that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the County shall be prohibited. This prohibition shall apply to the event organizers, agents of the event organizers, event vendors, and any other party (including non-profit organizations) who have an agreement with one or more of the co-sponsors of the event to sell goods or beverages at the event or otherwise provide an event-related service. The prohibition on the use of expandable polystyrene food service products will not be enforced upon individuals who are attending the function solely as a visitor or spectator. Written agreements with any vendor, including non-profit organizations, to sell food or beverage at an event that is sponsored or co-sponsored by the County of Ventura, shall specifically prohibit the usage and distribution of expandable polystyrene food service products.
http://portal.countyofventura.org/portal/page/portal/PUBLIC_WORKS/wasteManagement/epp/purchasing_program/products/food_service_items/eps%20board.pdf

West Hollywood, CA – Polystyrene Banned – 7/1/1990
-Prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene food service packaging.
-No definitive website, but check out this link:
(http://qcode.us/codes/westhollywood/view.php?topic=15-3-15_60&showAll=1&frames=on)

Other cities currently considering bans:

Chicago, IL – Proposed Polystyrene Ban

New York, NY – Partial Polystyrene Ban Proposed

Other Community Efforts:

Additional Polystyrene Ban Compilations:
(http://www.healthebay.org/assets/pdfdocs/PPI/ExistingPSbans.pdf)

Foam Free Seattle: http://www.foamfreeseattle.org/

Stop Styrofoam Hawaii: http://www.stopstyrofoamhawaii.org/about