Styrofoam Ban Could Become Countywide: CoCo Supervisors To Vote

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors may follow the lead of at least eight cities in the county and direct staff to draw up an ordinance that would ban polystyrene food and drink containers. At Tuesday's regular meeting, the supervisors will consider asking for an ordinance banning such containers.

Also possible is that the supervisors could ask for banning more than food containers. Richmond and San Pablo, for instance, also ban non-food-related polystyrene products like ice chests and packaging material including packing "peanuts."

More than 100 other California cities and counties have some form of a polystyrene ban. In July, the Concord City Council voted to prohibit polystyrene cups, bowls, plates, "clamshell" takeout containers and serving trays. Such polystyrene material can be difficult to recycle and adds to the
overall waste stream in an era where the goal is to reduce the volume of material taken to landfills.

Such an ordinance would come at a cost. Developing the ordinance could cost $75,000, with an annual cost of $25,000 to enforce an ordinance that includes only food containers. Expenses would also be incurred by county departments, including the Sheriff's Department and the county hospital and related medical clinics.

The supervisors' Transportation, Water and Infrastructure Committee recommends the county create and adopt an ordinance covering only food-related containers, at least for the time being.,

Tuesday's supervisors' meeting begins at 9 a.m. with a closed session. The open session will begin sometime after that. The supervisors' meetings take place on the first floor of the County Administration building, 651 Pine St. in downtown Martinez.

By Bay City News Service

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