California Restaurant Assn. calls on businesses to get involved before San Jose's city council meets on Jan. 24 to decide on proposed EPS, PS food service ware ban; group says restaurants will incur higher costs with alternative packaging

Lorena Madrigal

SACRAMENTO, California , December 22, 2011 (press release) – On Jan. 24, the San Jose City Council will decide 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 at this meeting whether to direct staff to draft an ordinance that would ban polystyrene food service ware. The council meets at 1:30 p.m. at Council Chambers, 200 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose.

The California Restaurant Association (CRA) is calling on restaurants to become more active in the coming weeks, as we continue to educate and inform council members about the effect of increased costs to restaurants if they are forced to purchase more expensive alternatives. The CRA also emphasizes that a ban is not necessary for the city to meet its trash reduction goals. These include increasing hot spot cleanings, increasing anti-littering enforcement, increasing public litter cans, increasing anti-littler public education, and expand foam recycling.

Restaurants and other foodservice establishments are urged to attend the council meeting to voice their concerns and oppose a polystyrene ban.

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