Council Unanimously Votes to Ban Styrofoam

During its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday night, the City Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors banning the use of polystyrene—more commonly known as Styrofoam—by Foster City businesses.

The County’s ordinance went into effect on July 1 and currently applies to all unincorporated areas of the county. The Board of Supervisors recently urged all cities within San Mateo County to adopt similar ordinances.

During its July 18 meeting, the City Council asked the Foster City Ad Hoc Environmental Sustainability Task Force (ESTF) and city staff to study the issue of a potential ban on polystyrene and prepare a report outlining the finer details and potential impacts of such a ban. That report was presented to the Council Monday night by Assistant City Manager Kristi Chappelle.

The report was extensive and outlined “the impact on business costs, the impact on the green economy, lifecycle and environmental impacts, litter impacts, how it affects our solid waste situation, and toxicity of the material,” said Chappelle.

Chappelle also discussed ESTF’s recent meeting on Sept. 8, during which members reviewed the report and voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt the County’s ordinance.

During Monday’s Council meeting, Chappelle said ESTF was proposing three alternatives for the Council’s vote—to adopt no ordinance, to adopt the County’s exact ordinance, or to pursue a “custom ordinance for Foster City,” in which the City could draft its own similar ordinance with any changes.

Chappelle pointed out that a statewide ban was recently proposed that would have taken effect in 2016, but that it did not pass the state assembly. She also said that the said it did not wish to take an official position on the issue.

“However, the Chamber has indicated it will work with the City, should we choose to move forward with approving an ordinance,” Chappelle explained.

The only issues brought up by council members addressed issues of enforcement.

Chappelle said the County Board of Supervisors offered that, should any city pass a ban on polystyrene, the County will offer outreach and education for local businesses, and will offer up the services of the County Health Department to perform periodic inspections of businesses to check for compliance. However, should a business be found noncompliant, it will be up to the City to follow up and impose any fines or other types of punishment.

The Council voted unanimously Monday to adopt the County’s exact ordinance.