Cupertino looking to roll out single-use plastic ban in 2023 – USA

Posted on March 18, 2022 by DrRossH in Plastic Limiting Regulations

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In an effort to cut back on the 300 tons of single-use food ware items tossed out by residents and businesses each year, the Cupertino City Council is considering banning single-use plastics at food service establishments as soon as next summer.

The proposed law, which could go into effect June 2023, would follow the lead of neighboring cities like Mountain View and Palo Alto by banning plastics straws, utensils, containers and drink stirrers at local eateries. Instead, residents would have to use alternatives, such as paper, wood, aluminum, bamboo or other fiber-based compostables.

But Cupertino is looking to take its law even further and become the first city in Santa Clara County to require reusable food ware not just for take-out, but for dining in, as well.

Vignesh Swaminathan, the chair of Cupertino’s Sustainability Commission, said that while getting rid of single-use plastics may be daunting, it’s just another step in helping the city reach its climate goals.

The commission has made several aggressive recommendations for the city to implement by 2024 — including banning the sale of bio-plastics at retail stores, charging customers for single-use food ware, piloting a reusable take-out food ware program at local restaurants and prohibiting plastic bags for takeout orders.