The Good News.
Almost ALL current California foodware policies include reuse for onsite dining.
Pacifica, Cupertino and Marin County just passed mandatory dine-in reuse policies in 2022!
Oakland, Petaluma, Palo Alto, Cupertino, San Francisco, Marin County, Burbank and Los Angeles are all currently drafting or have introduced reuse policies.
So what’s happening in San Mateo County?
San Mateo County is one of the few counties that does not include reuse with the Disposable Foodware Ordinance.
While the ordinance will eliminate plastics and toxic chemicals (PFAS) in single use foodware by switching to certified compostable foodware, it isn't enough.
We are advocating for San Mateo County cities to add an important amendment to the Disposable Foodware Ordinance - to move to zero waste for on-site dining through reusable foodware and cutlery.
Let's break it down.
1. San Mateo County voted on the Disposable Foodware Ordinance, which passed and goes into effect March 2022 (yay!).
2. However, the ordinance only applies to unincorporated parts of the county.
3. Each city council then has to vote to enact the ordinance for its own city. Twelve cities have passed the ordinance! Click here to see who has passed it.
4. Some cities have already included the amendment requiring on-site dining use of reusable foodware and cutlery. Pacifica, Daly City and Half Moon Bay have voted yes (Hooray!!).
5. Let's get the remaining cities on board with the ordinance, with the on-site dining amendment for reusables right from the start!
Where we are now: We have begun outreach with the Menlo Park Environmental Quality Commission (EQC). Contact us if you want to get involved!
6. Then, let's return to the cities that already passed the disposable foodware ordinance and add the dine-in reuse amendment.
Success!
Since we launched in 2021, we have achieved several policy successes in San Mateo County
Half Moon Bay
In December 2022, Half Moon Bay updated their foodware ordinance to require reusables for on-site dining. Now both coastside cities, Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, use identical language that provides clear instructions for restaurants to comply with what is required for onsite dining.
Thanks to all the coalition partners for our collective support letter, the individual support letters, and the public comments. The City Council particularly thanked the high school students for speaking up, saying they are the stewards of our future.
Redwood City
In October 2022, Redwood City passed their foodware ordinance. The ordinance was not amended to include mandatory or suggested reuse language; local restaurants opposed mandates that might add another burden to already struggling businesses.
City staff is currently working on a Foodware Assistance Program to help restaurants purchase reusable foodware or dishwashing facilities. This program will be in addition to the Technical Assistance and financial support already provided by the County of San Mateo. The ordance will be reviewed in the future to assess the success of the voluntary conversion to reusables for dine-in.
Pacifica
In 2022, Pacifica passed their foodware ordinance mandating reusable foodware for dining in! Thanks to all coalition partners for our collective support letter, the 55 people that sent in individual support letters, and the 13 public comments at the City Council meeting. It was a nail-biter of a meeting, but we won with another unanimous vote!
Daly City
In 2021, Daly City included a dine-in reuse amendment to their foodware ordinance on the basis of our cost & waste analysis of the benefits of reusable foodware. We are grateful to the Daly City staff, Small Business Commission, and City Council for listening to Reusable San Mateo County public comments and reading our report. We appreciate the city’s inclusion of our cost and waste benefit analysis and acknowledgement of our advocacy efforts in the city staff report!
What the amendment means.
The amendment makes the leap from single use to reuse. So, when you sit down to eat at a restaurant, you will be served on real plates, cups, and cutlery - no more single-use for dining in.
This will eliminate millions more items of waste, create savings for restaurants and a better dining experience for all.
A win-win for all.
Moving away from disposables to reusable containers saves restaurants money on expensive single-use items and on waste management. On average, restaurants will save $5,000 per year with onsite dining!
This will also help pave the way for start-ups, like Dispatch Goods, to create jobs by providing reusable to-go cups and containers to restaurants for takeout and food delivery.
And because we pay with our taxes to clean up San Mateo County's single-use plastics on our beaches and streets, we will in turn have less waste to haul and sort, saving us all money.
This is where you come in.
Advocates
Restaurants
Elected Officials