Council Balks At Single-Use Foodware Ban In Dublin — For Now

DUBLIN, CA — The Dublin City Council decided last week that it would support a countywide ban on single-use foodwares, but not in the immediate future.

The council decided it first wants to see the impacts of Senate Bill 1838, which became law in 2016 and set targets to halve the 2014 statewide organic waste level by 2020, and reduce the 2014 level by 75 percent by 2025.

Councilmember Jean Josey expressed concerns about SB 1838, and noted that local businesses are still grappling with recent regulation changes regarding recycling and Styrofoam.

"I think that it would be a good idea to let our businesses catch up with that," she said.

Ahead of the Jan. 14 meeting, Oakland-based nonprofit StopWaste presented the council with some options when it comes to regulating foodware. A countywide ban could make the transition less complicated for businesses and confusing for the public, the nonprofit said. But it also proposed an ordinance that cities could customize and implement.

A countywide ban could cost $1 million to create and implement, plus $400,000 per year to enforce.

Though the city decided not to take immediate action on a foodware ban, it voted to introduce a ban on the sale of vape products within city limits.

Read a city report on StopWaste's suggestions here.