City council of San Jose, California, will consider banning EPS, PS food service ware on Jan. 24

Lorena Madrigal

SACRAMENTO, California , December 15, 2011 (press release) – On Dec. 5, the City of San Jose Transportation and Environment Committee advanced two items to the full city council: a trash load reduction plan and a stakeholder process for prohibition of expanded polystyrene food ware. The committee didn’t make a clear recommendation on a proposed ban on polystyrene food ware.

The full council will consider the items Jan. 24 to determine whether to direct staff to include language stating that the city is pursuing a ban on expanded polystyrene foodservice ware in its stormwater permit application, which is due Feb. 1. The council also will decide whether to direct staff to draft an ordinance that would ban polystyrene food service ware.

A ban is not necessary for the city to meet its trash reduction goals. Environmental Services staff included other alternatives in its report to the committee that the California Restaurant Association (CRA) is requesting the council to consider instead of simply focusing on a ban. Alternatives include increasing hot spot cleanings, increasing anti-littering enforcement, increasing public litter cans, increasing anti-littler public education and expanding foam recycling.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.