REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Direct Staff to Develop an Ordinance to Reduce Use of Single-Use Plastic Foodware and Condiment Containers and Return to City Council for Approval after Completion of CEQA Review
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
The Sustainability Commission considered this item on March 15, 2021.
Staff provided a presentation with an overview of the challenges with single-use plastics and their alternatives, steps being taken regionally and in Santa Clara County to reduce plastics, a model ordinance developed by the Santa Clara County Technical Advisory Committee, impacts of COVID-19 on restaurants and single use plastics and what options might be workable in Sunnyvale. After the presentation, the Commission discussed the possibility of adding a third action to the recommended two phases in Alternative 1, which was for staff to return to Council in late 2022 to provide additional recommendations for reducing single use plastics. Staff agreed it was a viable addition.
The Sustainability Commission voted 7-0 to recommend that Council approve Alternative 1 with an amendment to add an action to come back to Council in late 2022: The Commission further recommended that the City Council direct staff to develop two ordinances to be developed and phased in over three years to reduce the impacts of single-use plastic foodware and condiment containers, and return for City Council approval of the ordinance after appropriate CEQA review.
The phases and action include 1) by September 2021 develop an opt-in program for foodware and condiment containers for online and take-out ordering from food service delivery vendors and restaurants and, 2) by late 2022/early 2023 require food service businesses to provide customers with single-use plastic foodware and condiment containers only upon request, for in-store as well as take-out. Additionally, direct staff to return to Council in late 2022 with further recommendations for the program.
After the Commission meeting, s...
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