Council Likely to Ban Styrofoam for the New Year

City staff introduced to the city council Monday night a city-wide ordinance that would ban the use of styrofoam containers. The council will decide May 7 in a public hearing whether to follow staff’s recommendation or not.

Environmental activists the ban of this non-biodegradable, non-recyclable product was not placed sooner, while some for business owners who could be left with extra inventory of the containers.

To give business owners enough time to clear their shelves of the product, staff set a January 1, 2013, implementation date. The city council will recognize those businesses who voluntarily stop using styrofoam prior to that date as “early adopters” and leaders in reducing the amount of styrofoam in the environment, according to a statement from city spokesman Malcolm Smith.

By reducing polystyrene, styrofoam’s scientific name, in the city, it would be easier to meet conditions of the city’s Municipal Regional (storm water) Permit, which monitors trash going down the city’s storm drains.

Banned items are identified as single-use disposable products used to serve and transport ready-to-consume food and beverages like plates, bowls, trays and containers. Disposable packaging for unprepared food does not qualify.

In addition to San Mateo County, a number of other cities on the peninsula, including Burlingame, Half Moon Bay, Foster City, San Bruno, Pacifica, South San Francisco, and Millbrae, have implanted similar ordinances.

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