In an article published on January 24, 2019 by Los Angeles Times, reporter Ben Margot informed that on January 22, 2019, the City Council of Berkeley, U.S., “adopted the Single-Use Disposable Foodware and Litter Reduction Ordinance,” aiming “to force a shift from plastic to compostable food containers” by prohibiting the use of non-compostable items. Furthermore, in order to reduce the volumes of waste altogether, “Berkeley consumers will be required to pay an extra quarter on every takeout cup they use, even after restaurants switch to compostable ones.”
The Ordinance is set to be fully implemented by January 1, 2022, with a phase-in plan beginning January 1, 2020. Margot surmised that “if everything goes as planned, . . . the flow of plastic containers, cups, lids and utensils from restaurants, fast-food outlets and other business serving prepared food within city limits will have virtually stopped.”
Read more
Ben Margot (January 23, 2019). “Berkeley goes nuclear on single-use plastic.” Los Angeles Times
Plastic Pollution Coalition (January 24, 2019). “Berkeley, CA passes groundbreaking policy to reduce single-use foodware.”
