City of Davis To Ban Styrofoam Food Packaging?

DAVIS, CA -- The Davis City Council is poised to consider an ordinance that would ban the use of Styrofoam in the packaging of food.

The item is tentatively scheduled to be reviewed at the Council's April 18 meeting.

The proposed ordinance would ban polystyrene foam (a.k.a. “Styrofoam”) from being used for serving food and beverages in Davis. The ordinance would require all items for serving food or beverages to either be reusable, recyclable or compostable.

Polystyrene foam food and beverage packaging is not recyclable. Under the current Davis recycling program, all other single-use food packaging items are accepted as either recyclable or compostable.

The ordinance would apply to any store, restaurant, delicatessen, catering vehicle, school, non-profit group or any other organization, group or individual which regularly provides food for public consumption on or off its premises. It would include plates, cups, bowls, take-out food clamshells and other products used to serve food or beverages.

The city is holding two stakeholder workshops -- March 29 at 9:00 a.m. in the City Hall Conference Room, 23 Russell Blvd., and March 30 at 3:30 p.m. in the Hunt Boyer Building Conference Room, 604 2nd St. -- for businesses to discuss the proposed ordinance, ask questions, and provide input before this proposed ordinance goes to City Council.

For more information, please visit DavisRecycling.org.

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