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From YouTube: San Bruno City Council Meeting August 24, 2010 10c. Sustainable Food Packaging Ordinance
Description
San Bruno City Council Meeting August 24, 2010 10c. Sustainable Food Packaging Ordinance
A
B
Good
evening,
mayor
and
members
of
the
City
Council,
it
is
a
pleasure
to
before
you
again
to
discuss
the
sustainable
food
packaging
ordinance
and
some
new
developments
that
are
occurring
with
it.
Some
brief
background.
The
ordinance
went
into
effect
on
april
first
2010
after
sort
of
a
year-long
leadly
time
and
a
significant
amount
of
public
outreach.
The
ordinance
does
two
things
specifically:
it
bans
the
use
of
polystyrene
for
disposable
foodservice,
where
that
includes
things
like
cups,
lids
trays,
straws
utensils
plates.
Also,
anything
you
consider
for
a
disposable
item.
B
Food
service
is
included
in
the
ordinance
and
you
can't
use
polystyrene
as
a
component
further.
It
mandates
that
all
that
food
service,
where
be
either
reusable
recyclable,
biodegradable
or
compostable,
and
for
our
discussion
later
on
in
a
few
slides,
the
orange
defines
the
recyclable
plastics
as
numbers
1
through
5
and
those
numbers
are
the
numbers
you
see
on
different
types
of
containers
that
have
sort
of
the
triangle
arrows
and
a
number
in
the
eccentric.
B
After
implementation
on
April,
first
staff
has
done
a
survey
soar
to
see
how
it
was
being
adopted
citywide,
and
we
found
a
couple
of
things.
The
first,
which
we're
very
happy
about
is
the
success
in
virtually
eliminating
the
use
of
the
foam
polystyrene
or
the
styrofoam.
This
is
the
sort
of
the
poster
child
of
what
a
environmentally
unsustainable
and
friendly
product.
It
is,
and
it's
nice
to
see
that
being
eliminated
in
almost
all
cases.
B
Secondly,
we
found
that
non
biodegradable
straws
and
utensils
we're
still
in
use
by
a
significant
number
of
food
vendors,
and
this
is
important
sort
of
several
reasons
in
the
development
of
the
ordinance
and
at
ordinance.
Adoption,
any
type
of
plastic
utensils
or
straws
were
not
considered
recyclable
by
recology
san
bruno,
our
garbage
company,
and
because
they
were
not
considered
recyclable
by
them,
they
were
considered
prohibited
by
the
coordinates.
B
So
that
means
even
if
it
was
a
number
five
plastic
which
the
ordinance
says
is:
okay,
because
it
wasn't
deemed
recyclable
by
a
hauler,
it
was,
it
was
banned,
and
so,
in
all
of
our
outreach
material
we
said
you
know.
1
through
5
plastics
are
okay,
except
for
straws
and
utensils
for
that
you
need
to
use
a
biodegradable
all
alternative.
B
B
They
may
consider
that
the
number
five
their
number
five
straws
number
five
utensils
are
good,
because
a
number
five
is
recyclable,
so
that
may
be
an
issue.
Another
issue
is
that
biodegradable
straws
utensils
are
still
fairly
costly
compared
to
the
regular
polystyrene
standard
and
San
Bruno's
ordinance
like
Mowbray's
and
South
Sam
cisco's
is
a
bit
more
restrictive
than
some
of
the
larger
cities
like
San
Francisco,
where
the
ordinance
only
applies
to
the
actual
package
itself,
a
lot
of
vendors
in
our
outreach.
B
B
However,
a
few
interesting
things
are
happening.
It
recology
san
bruno,
our
garbage
hauler,
has
increased
what
they
accept
into
the
blue,
bins
as
recyclables.
So
now
they
take
plastics
one
through
seven
polystyrene
number,
six
plastic,
not
the
not
the
phone,
but
the
hard
plastic
that
you
will
see
what
the
number
six
symbol
can
be
placed
in
the
blue
bin.
Further
all
plastic
straws
and
utensils
of
whatever
type
are
now
considered
recyclable.
B
So,
regardless
of
what
sampled
own
garbage,
we
call
it.
December
team
accepts
food.
Vendors
cannot
use
politics
dairy,
but
what
could
also
happen
now
is
that
utensils
and
straws
made
from
other
types
of
plastic,
for
example,
polypropylene,
which
is
fairly
cost
competitive
to
polystyrene,
would
be
could
be
considered
allowable
food
service
where
so
this
this
doesn't
change
the
ordinance.
The
ordinances
isn't
change
by
this.
B
This
is
just
a
broadening
of
what
is
considered
recyclable
because
our
ordinance
is
reference
to
specific
types
plastics
and
what
the
garbage
hauler
accepts
so
given,
given
that
there
are
a
few
options
that
the
council
could
consider
and
provide
direction
to
staff
on
the
first
bullet.
There
is
what
I
had
just
just
described.
B
This
has
the
advantage
of
it
has
the
advantage
of
leaving
the
of
achieving
helping
to
achieve
a
higher
rate
of
compliance
among
the
food
vendors
it
wouldn't.
It
would
just
evolved
on
a
little
bit
of
additional
knowledge
on
our
part
to
send
a
notification
to
vendors,
knowing
that
you
know,
there's
an
increase
in
number
products
that
you
are
allowed
to
have
for
your
customers,
with
the
caveat
that,
even
though
some
of
these
some
of
the
utensils
and
straws
are
recyclable,
there
may
be
some
that
aren't
recycled
because
the
the
plastics
would
be
co-mingled.
B
The
polypropylene
utensils
and
straws
would
probably
commingled
with
the
polystyrene
utensils
and
straws,
because
you
can't
tell
them
apart
on
the
restoring
line
because
they
don't
have
the
numbers
to
differentiate
between
the
two.
The
other
option
is
to
specifically
amend
the
ordinance.
If,
if
council
wanted
to
to
keep
the
postable
and
biodegradable
straws
utensils,
that
is
an
option.
A
third
option
is
we
could
do
some
additional
research
to
see
if
these
items
are
actually
recyclable.
So
the
ordinance
says
recyclable
plastics.
B
What
actually
happens
to
the
smaller
plastic
items
that
are
sort
of
the
miscellaneous
plastic
and
how
they
get
processed
it?
It's
not
entirely
certain
how
well
those
items
are
recycled,
so
they
get
processed
and
they're
certainly
kept
out
of
the
landfill.
At
least
for
the
time
being
but
be,
but
because
they
are
considered
a
sort
of
apply
styling
product
when
polypropylene
is
mixed
with
the
polystyrene
and
I
apologize
for
mixing
all
these
terms
around.
But
when
number
five
plastic
is
mixed
with
number
six
plastic,
its
treated
as
number
six
plastic
right
and
number
six
plastic.
B
Generally.
We
don't
like
so
there's
a
concern
that
you're,
not
you,
don't
have
a
closed
loop
recycling
project
where
you
can't
take
a
a
utensil
on
turn
it
back
into.
You
owe
you
utensil
I
have
to
become
something
else
like
a
computer
case
or
a
plastic
doll,
and
then
it
gets
thrown
away.
So
that's
not
that
you
can
reuse
it,
but
it's
maybe
not
a
closed
loop
recycling.
So
I'll
leave
it
at
that
and
be
happy
to
take
some
clarifying
questions
here
and
receive
any
interaction.
B
Would
get
with
recology
san
bruno
and
and
make
sure
that
we
feel
together
that
what
we
think
is
actually
having
with
this
product,
so
that
would
involve
discussions
with
the
hauler,
probably
involve
some
resource
of
some
academic
papers
to
see
what
actual
peer-reviewed
literature
is
has
said
on
what
happens
to
recycled
plastic,
so
it'd
be
sort
of
combination
of
discussion
with
some
of
our
partners,
other
local
agencies
and
then
just
a
little
old-fashioned
library
work.
Okay,.
C
C
D
Mighty
census,
I'm
in
favor
of
also
a
bullet
point
three
for
the
additional
research.
I
believe
what
the
married
said
that
it
should
be
fairly
straightforward
and
easy.
I
think
ecology
has
done
probably
a
lot
of
the
legwork
for
us,
and
then
we
can
just
partner
up
to
ensure
the
information.
The
data
we
have
and
the
decisions
were
making
our
fully
thought
through.
C
My
only
question
is
that
these
are
the
big,
the
big
vendors
like
the
fast
food
companies
I
mean.
Are
they
what
what
number
are
they
using
and
can
they
tell
I
mean
it's
just
so
confusing
I
mean?
How
are
you
supposed
to
expect-
and
you
know
one
a
small
business
owner
to
do
it
after
they've,
pretty
much
changed
over
their
containers
and
their
majority
of
their
contain
utensils
and
things
and
then
now
having
to
really
get
into
understanding
the
science
of
plastic
and
then
again
how
we
going
to
enforce
it.
C
I
mean
the
consumer
is
not
out
consumers
out
there,
not
knowing
what's
number
five
Number
six
recyclable,
how
many
times
or
not.
So
I
think
it's
it's
until.
I
think
the
time
is
the
time
will
come
and
it's
been
my
concern
with
this
whole
green
thing
is
that
until
everyone
does
it
I
mean
there's
always
going
to
be
those?
C
You
know
certain
parts
of
society
that
are
going
to
slip
through,
like
the
grocery
stores,
like
the
big
companies
like
the
big
product
companies,
it's
done,
I
mean
I,
went
into
a
I,
want
to
know
a
back
room
today
and
there's
this
huge
case
of
styrofoam
coffee
cups.
So
there's
still
a
big
business
in
that.
So
that's
my
concern
is
that
we're
getting
into
a
real
strict
part
of
compliance
here
and
it's
you
know
we're
hitting
we're
hitting
our
our
businesses.
One
you
know.
Rest
of
the
world
is
still
fighting
over
the
styrofoam
I.
A
Agree
to
a
certain
extent,
but
then
we
established
an
ordinance
and
the
method
which
Recology
collect
stuff
is
has
changed
and
I
think
we
deserve
it
for
ourselves
to
perform
this
additional
research
to
find
out.
What's
going
on
sure,
we
can't
do
everything
ourselves,
but
we
got
to
start
someplace
and
you're
talking
about
you
know
why
other
cities
doing
things
in
other
cities
not
doing
things.
You
know
we're
talking
to
Recology
now
about
trying
to
get
smaller
bins
for
garbage,
because
people
are
recycling
more,
that's
a
good
thing.
A
A
I
know
in
my
household
just
in
the
recycling
you
get
a
smaller
bin,
not
for
garbage
and
a
huge
thing
which
is
filled
almost
all
the
time
with
cardboard
and
everything
else,
whereas
before
it
used
to
use,
be
thrown
away
so
San
Bruno
years
ago,
was
at
the
forefront
of
recycling
and
I
think
we
have
to
stay
there.
So
my
personal
feeling
is
to
perform
additional
research,
but
I'd
like
to
hear
from
the
rest
of
the
council
Irene.
E
F
It
is,
it
is
a
confusing
thing
for
people
when
they
go
to
McDonald's
or
whatever
and
get
a
straw,
and
they
don't
know
what
to
do
with
it.
So
that
part
is
confusing,
but
I
think,
as
time
goes
on,
it'll
be
less
and
less
confusing
and
I
hope
and
I'm,
confident
that
eventually
we
won't
be
selling
those
things
that
we
will
be
buying
them
and
it
won't
be
a
problem
anymore,
but
in
the
meantime
we
need
to
do
as
much
as
we
absolutely
can.
F
So
yes
perform
the
additional
research
and
figure
out
if
we
need
to
mandate
any
changes
in
our
make
any
changes
in
the
ordinance.
Another
thing
we
might
look
at
doing
and
I.
This
sounds
kind
of
simple.
I
know,
but
starbucks
does
a
discount
if
you
bring
your
own
coffee
mug
again
that
kind
of
thing
it
occurred
to
me
just
why
we
were
sitting
here.
The
stores
there's
such
a
fight
about
the
containers
for
bringing
in.
Basically
it
bring
you
leftovers
home.
F
If
people
want
to,
why
can't
they
bring
their
own
containers
and
put
their
own
leftovers
in
it,
I
mean
that
just
another
thing
that
we
could
suggest
to
restaurants.
You
know
a
25
cent
discount
or
you
don't
whatever
it
is,
but
it's
something
in
addition
that
we
can
add
to
what
we're
doing,
but
certainly
somebody
out
there
has
more
information
than
we
do
and
I'm
sure
you
can
find
it
out
and
now
that
we
have
the
library
opens
on
Friday,
you
can
come
all
the
time
to
do
it.
Michael.
E
It
seems
to
me
that
you
can
never
real,
even
if
you
have
all
of
the
food
vendors
in
the
city
comply
with
this
you're
still
blending
in
the
residential
garbage
into
that
stream,
and
there's
no
regulation
on
that.
So
it
almost
seems
impossible
to
keep
that
stream
clean
unless
I'm
missing
something.
What.
B
I
think
it's
part
of
our
research.
We
would,
since
we're
looking
into
it,
make
sure
that
it
is
appropriate
to
accept
those
items,
even
even
for
residents
put
in
there.
So
is
it
really
even
appropriate,
even
though
the
recycling
facilities
taking
it
is
appropriate
really
to
be
calling
that
a
recycled
commodity
because
they'll
take
anything
they
have
a
market
for
and
so
right
now
there's
a
market
for
commingled
small
plastic
items,
but
is
it
as
we
do
this
piece
or
if
you
would,
we
determine
if
that
is
really?
B
Are
we
being
faithful
to
our
customers
to
say
that
this
product
is
actually
being
recycled,
and
so,
if
maybe,
if
that's
not
appropriate,
may
be
worn
the
recommendations
that
could
come
back?
Is
you
know?
Maybe
we
need
to
amend
what
we
take
into
the
blue
bin,
potentially
by
me,
I
sort
of
agree
with
you
that
you
are
setting
up
ourselves
up
for
this
sort
of
dual
system,
and
so
will
will
definitely
r
phi
that
moment
when
we
come
back.
Okay,
thank.