HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 85-2007
RESOLUTION NO. 85-2007
CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA
A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING POLICY GOALS AND A
VOLUNTARY PROGRAM PROMOTING THE ELIMINATION OF
POL YSTYRENE FOAM FOOD SERVICE WARE
WHEREAS, the City of South San Francisco ("City") has a duty to protect public
health and the natural environment; and
WHEREAS, the California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989 requires that all
California jurisdictions achieve and maintain a landfill diversion rate of 50%, beginning in
2000; and
WHEREAS, solid waste that is nonbiodegradable and nonrecyclable poses an acute
problem for any environmentally and financially responsible program of solid waste
management; and
WHEREAS, discarded food service ware represents a growing and substantial portion
of waste in the City's waste stream, and regulation of said packaging is a necessary part of any
effort to reduce the disposal of solid waste and the environmental costs of waste management;
and
WHEREAS, there is currently no meaningful recycling of post-consumer polystyrene
foam food service ware due to contamination from food residue and the economic
unfeasibility of such a service; and
WHEREAS, biodegradable food service ware can be included in commercial and
residential food scraps collection programs and processed at compo sting facilities rather than
landfilled; and
WHEREAS, the process of manufacturing polystyrene contributes to large amounts of
air pollution and liquid and solid waste; and
WHEREAS, plastic litter, including polystyrene foam, poses a threat not only to the
marine life and other wildlife, but also to the natural environment at large; and
WHEREAS, plastic food packaging is a petroleum processing by-product and oil is a
nonrenewable resource; and
WHEREAS, biodegradable or recyclable products are available and environmentally
sound alternatives to nonbiodegradable and nonrecyclable products; and
WHEREAS, it is increasingly costly to site and develop landfills and such costs
represent an economic burden on the residents of the City; and
WHEREAS, it would be both environmentally and financially beneficial to the City to
decrease the nonbiodegradable and nonrecyclable waste stream and maximize the operating
life of landfills; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of this resolution is to set forth guidelines for developing a
long-term policy that will eventually eliminate the use of nonbiodegradable, non-returnable,
and non-recyclable packaging originating at retail food establishments ("Green Food
Packaging Policy"); and
WHEREAS, a Green Food Packaging Policy and the use of biodegradable food service
ware made from renewable resources is in the public interest; and
WHEREAS, the ability of a substance to biodegrade and the impact of a substance on
our natural environment are meaningful criteria to use when developing public policy to
reduce litter and blight and improve the management and disposal of solid waste; and
WHEREAS, as a result of these concerns, municipalities and counties across the State
of California have banned or are in the process of banning polystyrene food service ware,
including neighboring cities such as Berkeley, Santa Cruz, Oakland, San Francisco, and
Millbrae; and
WHEREAS, any successful program requires the establishment of clear policies and
laws conducive to responsible waste management; and
WHEREAS, responsible waste management cannot occur without cooperation with
City residents and the local business community; and
WHEREAS, the Green Food Packaging Policy is consistent with and helps to
implement the City's Waste Management Plan (South San Francisco Municipal Code Chapter
8.16) and the California State legislature's intent in enacting the California Solid Waste
Management and Resource Recovery Act of 1972 (Gov. Code Section 667700 et seq.).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of South
San Francisco that:
1. It shall be a policy goal of the City that food packaging provided by retail food
establishments shall be biodegradable, recyclable, or returnable.
2. The City shall promote, on a voluntary basis, the reduction of non-
biodegradable, non-recyclable, and non-returnable food and beverage
packaging used by retail food establishments within the City of South San
Francisco to the maximum extent possible.
3. Staff shall consult with the Chamber of Commerce and representatives from
affected businesses over the next twelve months to discuss and prepare a
Green Food Packaging Ordinance for future consideration by the City Council.
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I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by the
City Council ofthe City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting held on the 25th day of July,
2007 by the following vote:
AYES:
Councilmembers Mark N. Addiego, Joseph A. Fernekes and Karyl Matsumoto,
Vice Mayor Pedro Gonzalez and Mayor Richard A. Garbarino
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: None
ATTEST:
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