Date: 11/29/2021
RE: Strengthening Pacifica’s policies on single use plastic foodware Dear Pacifica City Councilmembers and Mayor,
We are leaders of several environmental and civil society organizations based in Pacifica, and are writing to express our strong support for the adoption of the San Mateo County (SMC) Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance with an additional requirement for reusables when food is consumed on premises (dine-in). Single use plastics are well known to have major negative impacts on the environment and human health, and these impacts disproportionately affect low income communities of color. In addition, single use plastics are causing an unnecessary burden on our municipal solid waste management system, as they comprise a large fraction of municipal waste reaching the only landfill in the County—Ox Mountain in Half Moon Bay—that is rapidly approaching its capacity.
In 2018, the City of Pacifica demonstrated bold leadership on reducing plastic pollution by amending its existing ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam) foodware to include plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery, and was the first city in San Mateo County to enact such a policy. Positive results have been tangible as far fewer of these items are collected during local beach cleanups.
Since then, the negative impacts of all single use have become much better documented, and many jurisdictions in the Bay Area are also pursuing aggressive policies that restrict single use plastic foodware. Recognizing the diverse problems single use plastics cause throughout their lifecycle, San Mateo County (SMC) recently adopted its own Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance, that also serves as a model ordinance for cities within the county.
The SMC policy goes beyond Pacifica’s current ordinance to include additional single use plastic items, along with requirements for businesses to supply single use items only if requested for takeout and delivery orders, while encouraging reuse. We strongly recommend the City of Pacifica to adopt the SMC model ordinance, along with an additional provision that requires reusable foodware for dine-in, when food is consumed on the premises where it is purchased. Reuse policies are already included in the foodware ordinances of Daly City, Half Moon Bay, Santa Rosa, and Berkeley, and we firmly believe including a reuse requirement in the current policy would prevent the need for yet another amendment in the near future, while effectively reducing the waste and litter generated from single use items.
The existing, proposed, and recommended foodware policies are summarized below:
Pacifica’s existing foodware ordinance (Section 6-5.402 and 6-5.403):
Prohibits vendors from providing disposable polystyrene (Styrofoam) food service ware. No polystyrene disposable food service ware allowed for City facilities, and no city department or agency will purchase or acquire polystyrene for use at City facilities. Prohibits use of plastic cutlery, plastic stirrers, and plastic straws, and encourages use of compostable paper cups. Prohibits entities or organizations that rent or use City facilities to use plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery, and encourages 100% compostable paper cups.
SMC Ordinance:
Includes all disposable single use plastic food service ware (cups, bowls, plates, takeout and delivery containers, etc.).
Requires accessories to be distributed by request only, unbundled as separate individual units.
Online takeout and food delivery services to distribute single use accessories only if customers opt-in.
Encourages REUSE as the most sustainable option.
Additional recommended amendments:
Requirement for reusable food service ware for dining on premises. Excludes disposable paper food wrappers, sleeves, and bags; foil wrappers, paper napkins, paper tray liners and paper plate liners.
Full or partial waiver may be granted if the Food Vendor can demonstrate inability to comply due to insurmountable space constraints, undue financial hardship, and/or extraordinary circumstances.
Why include the additional “reusables for dine-in” requirement? It is the new normal: almost all current California foodware policies include reuse for onsite dining. San Mateo County is one of the few that does not, yet Pacifica could remain at the forefront of sustainability efforts.
Reduces the amount of trash generated by food service businesses; better for health and the environment.
Saves businesses money in the medium to long term.
Alignment with jurisdictions that are currently drafting or have introduced reuse policies in the Bay Area and beyond: Berkeley, Petaluma, Palo Alto, Cupertino, San Francisco, Marin County, Burbank, Los Angeles, Santa Rosa.
We believe that amending Pacifica’s existing ordinance to include the SMC model policy, plus the additional requirement of reusables for dine-in, would greatly benefit the health and wellbeing of Pacifica’s residents and visitors, while having a positive impact on the environment.
Thank you very much for your attention to this important issue, and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Plastic Free Future Pacifica Climate Committee
Alejandra Warren Dierdre Martin
Matthew Warren
Pacifica Environmental Family
Cindy Abbott
Pacific Beach Coalition
Lynn Adams Tree City Pacifica
Antony Luxton Amy Andonian Kaii Martin
Ana Garcia Sandy Ayers Susan Miller
Jim Fithian Annie Crow Gail Benton Shoemaker
Jeff Moroso Marjory Davis
Paul Totah