TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Sheryl L. Bratton, County Counsel
REPORT BY: Jason M. Dooley, Deputy, County Counsel
SUBJECT: Ordinance modifying Napa County Code Chapter 5.70 and adding Chapter 5.80 to reduce the waste and pollution caused by single-use plastic bags and eliminating the use of single-use plastic food ware in the County.
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt an Ordinance modifying Napa County Code Chapter 5.70 and adding Chapter 5.80 to reduce the waste and pollution caused by single-use plastic bags and eliminating the use of single-use plastic food ware in the County. (No Fiscal Impact; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
Over the past 35 years, several municipalities in California have passed ordinances regulating the use of single-use food ware. One of the earliest such ordinances was adopted by the City of Carmel, which adopted its "Environmentally Acceptable Materials" ordinance in 1989. According to Californians Against Waste (https://www.cawrecycles.org), 131 cities and counties have adopted ordinances banning polystyrene, with at least 47 jurisdictions also having requirements that take-out food ware be recyclable or compostable.
On June 27, 2023, as a part of a discussion on future agenda items, the Napa County Board of Supervisors directed staff to begin work on a reusable food ware ordinance, including public outreach. Since December of 2023, staff has been developing a draft Single-Use Plastic Bag Reduction and Reusable Foodware and Waste Reduction Ordinance (see Attachment A).
The proposed ordinance went through a considerable public outreach process. The ordinance amends the existing single-use plastic bag reduction ordinance and adds a new chapter (5.80) to address reusable foodware and waste reduction. The proposed ordinance would become effective one year after its adoption to allow for education and public outreach efforts to aid food purveyors and the public in complying with the new requirements.
The proposed ordinance was introduced ...
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