Submitted by: Ben Simasek
Submitting Department: Legislative
Agenda Section: Consent
Item Title:
title
Support for CB-14-2022 - Accessory Disposable Food Service Ware
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Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move that the Interim Mayor and City Council submit testimony to the County Council in support of CB-014-2022, “An Act Concerning Accessory Disposable Food Service Ware”, in order to reduce waste and spread awareness among local businesses and residents.
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Summary Background:
The environmental impacts of single (or zero)-use plastic are observed both globally and locally. Plastic is derived from fossil fuels and the production process results in climate change-driving emissions. These emissions, along with the toxic chemicals plastic is comprised of can harm human health. Rather than decomposing, plastic breaks down into smaller bits, or “microplastics”, which are extremely harmful to wildlife as well as ocean and freshwater ecology.
In large part due to the pandemic, many restaurants and food service businesses have seen increases in takeout and delivery service. Much of this takeout is consumed at home, where customers typically have their own utensils, condiments, and accessories. Often food service ware automatically included with orders ends up going in the trash without even being used once. It also contaminates recycling and compost, since most kinds are not recyclable and even “compostable” varieties require industrial composting facilities to break down. Unfortunately, food service ware too often ends up littered in local parks and streams.
Many restaurants have already implemented a simple checkbox or text space in online ordering forms to allow customers to affirmatively request utensils or condiments. Though the costs are minimal to the food service businesses, only providing them upon request and rather than automatically with every order actually saves food businesses money.
In 2021, the Hyattsville Environment Committee discussed the idea of a single-use plasticware on demand ordinance for the city of Hyattsville. In the March 8, 2022 meeting, HEC unanimously voted to advocate that the City support the county bill. A similar bill (HB 69) was introduced, but not passed by the Maryland State Legislature in 2021.
As drafted, the County bill would require food service businesses and third party ordering platforms operating in Prince George’s County to provide accessory disposable food service ware only upon request or at a self-service station. An education and outreach campaign would be required prior to and during implementation and the County Department of the Environment would oversee enforcement. First violations would result in a warning, and second and third violations would result in escalating fines within a one year period. Businesses would be allowed to request a temporary one-year waiver if enforcement would result in an undue burden.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION:
Prince George's County Council - Reference No. CB-014-2022 (legistar.com) <https://princegeorgescountymd.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5467026&GUID=C3F61BAE-A83A-42AF-9368-75D317BF7C00>
Testimony: Single-use plastics | Environment Maryland <https://environmentmaryland.org/blogs/blog/mde/testimony-single-use-plastics>
Reduce Single-Use Plastic | Sierra Club <https://www.sierraclub.org/maryland/reduce-single-use-plastic>
The Climate Impact of Single Use Plastics | Environmental Center | University of Colorado Boulder <https://www.colorado.edu/ecenter/2021/02/25/climate-impact-single-use-plastics>
Next Steps:
Upon approval by the council, the Interim Mayor and Council will send a letter to the county council in support of CB-014-2022.
Fiscal Impact:
None.
City Administrator Comments:
Recommend Support
Community Engagement:
Discussed by Hyattsville Environment Committee in November 2021 and March 2022 (with unanimous vote in favor).
Strategic Goals:
Goal 2 - Ensure the Long-Term Economic Viability of the City
Legal Review Required?
N/A