City of Sebastopol
02-19-2019, 01:27 PM
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View Full Version : Sebastopol proposes prohibiting Polystyrene Foam at March 5th meeting
Lilith Rogers
02-20-2019, 11:32 AM
Can't make the meeting but definitely support this measure. and I'd also encourage more recycle bins around--esp. next to the bus stops.
Barry
03-14-2019, 01:56 PM
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Sebastopol mulls ban on polystyrene
By Laura Hagar Rush, Sonoma West Editor, [email protected] Mar 13, 2019
A proposed ban on polystyrene food containers and packaging dominated last week’s Sebastopol City Council meeting.
The polystyrene ban was written by Sonoma County Waste Management Agency, which said it hopes that all municipalities in Sonoma County will pass it.
Sebastopol is the first city in Sonoma County to consider the ordinance. It will come before council for a final vote at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 19.
“Basically this would be an ordinance to prohibit the use and sale of disposable food service ware and other products containing polystyrene foam,” Mikus said. (Polystyrene foam is colloquially known as Styrofoam, but that is actually a trademarked brand.)
Continues here (https://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/sebastopol-mulls-ban-on-polystyrene/article_1f4fc3e4-45bd-11e9-8a23-1724f8945536.html)
Sebastopol mulls ban on polystyrene
By Laura Hagar Rush, Sonoma West Editor, [email protected] Mar 13, 2019
A proposed ban on polystyrene food containers and packaging dominated last week’s Sebastopol City Council meeting.
The polystyrene ban was written by Sonoma County Waste Management Agency, which said it hopes that all municipalities in Sonoma County will pass it.
Sebastopol is the first city in Sonoma County to consider the ordinance. It will come before council for a final vote at its next regular meeting on Tuesday, March 19.
“Basically this would be an ordinance to prohibit the use and sale of disposable food service ware and other products containing polystyrene foam,” Mikus said. (Polystyrene foam is colloquially known as Styrofoam, but that is actually a trademarked brand.)
Continues here (https://www.sonomawest.com/sonoma_west_times_and_news/news/sebastopol-mulls-ban-on-polystyrene/article_1f4fc3e4-45bd-11e9-8a23-1724f8945536.html)
Asa
03-14-2019, 09:01 PM
Great news that Sebastopol and hopefully other municipalities will all consider this commonsense move! I wonder why the the county isn't being asked to take it up at that level... Maybe there is a concern that the economics might be different in each community, or the county doesn't have the authority?
There could be voluntary fees for disposable take-out items and voluntary credits for customers who bring their own reusable takeout ware. (For example, a restaurant could voluntarily charge patrons a small fee, with a maximum of 10 cents, to have their takeout packed in a disposable packaging. Restaurants could also voluntarily give patrons who brought their own reuseable takeout containers a small credit, to be no more than 25 cents.)
It seems odd to set maximum fees and credits. Aren't businesses already free to provide for fees and credits if they want to? Recommended amounts are good, minimum amounts would be even better (though I can understand reticence to mandate that off the bat, especially unless it were mandated county- or statewide). Even a recommended maximum would be OK. But why stop a business from providing, say, a 50-cent incentive if they want to?
I guess this legislation doesn't prohibit non-disposable takeout containers intended for reuse from being used, and businesses would continue to be free to sell them at any price. Similar to reusable shopping bags (without the mandate). It would be very interesting if restaurants and independent delivery services provided reusable containers for delivery/takeout, and accepted those containers for return and reuse at subsequent encounters (including future deliveries).
There could be voluntary fees for disposable take-out items and voluntary credits for customers who bring their own reusable takeout ware. (For example, a restaurant could voluntarily charge patrons a small fee, with a maximum of 10 cents, to have their takeout packed in a disposable packaging. Restaurants could also voluntarily give patrons who brought their own reuseable takeout containers a small credit, to be no more than 25 cents.)
It seems odd to set maximum fees and credits. Aren't businesses already free to provide for fees and credits if they want to? Recommended amounts are good, minimum amounts would be even better (though I can understand reticence to mandate that off the bat, especially unless it were mandated county- or statewide). Even a recommended maximum would be OK. But why stop a business from providing, say, a 50-cent incentive if they want to?
I guess this legislation doesn't prohibit non-disposable takeout containers intended for reuse from being used, and businesses would continue to be free to sell them at any price. Similar to reusable shopping bags (without the mandate). It would be very interesting if restaurants and independent delivery services provided reusable containers for delivery/takeout, and accepted those containers for return and reuse at subsequent encounters (including future deliveries).