Disposable Foodware Ordinance

Overview

Plastic straws, utensils, stirrer sticks, drink plugs, produce bags, bundled utensils and condiments, and other disposable plastic items are no longer allowed in Palo Alto.

The City of Palo Alto has adopted the Disposable Foodware Items and Other Disposable Products Ordinance to protect local watersheds and oceans, reduce litter, and encourage Zero Waste. The ordinance is part of a larger Disposable Foodware Packaging Reduction Plan.

Banned Items

Effective January 1, 2020 the following items are no longer allowed in Palo Alto. 

In addition, effective January 1, 2022 State requirements from Assembly Bill 1276  no longer allows bundled foodware items with single use disposable condiments.

 Plastic Straws

Plastic Utensils

Plastic Stirrers

Plastic Beverage Plugs

Plastic Produce Bags

Bundled Utensils and Condiments

Resources

There are a variety of resources available to help you comply with the ordinance.

• Disposable Foodware Purchasing Guide(PDF, 1MB) – a guide to help you choose alternatives that comply with the ordinance.

• Upon Request Sign(PDF, 569KB) – put this out to alert customers that they need to request straws, utensils and other items.

• Leaf Greens Storage Ideas(PDF, 146KB) - ideas on how to store your leafy greens without a traditional plastic produce bag.

• Technical Assistance - For technical assistance including site visits, staff trainings, Zero Waste best practices, and educational materials (e.g., signage, flyers), contact GreenWaste of Palo Alto at (650) 493-4894 or pacustomerservice@greenwaste.com 

• Signage, Material Guides, and Other Tools - For signage, including a custom online sign making tool, service and material guides, videos and other helpful tools, visit our What Goes Where Tools webpage.

Definitions

• Reusable - Reusable items are items that were meant to be washed and reused many times.

• Disposable - Disposable items are items that were meant to be used only once and then discarded. These items can be recyclable, compostable, or landfill. 

• Compostable - Compostable items are items that are accepted in Palo Alto's compost program.

• Upon Request - Upon Request means offering foodware items to customers only if they ask for them or via a self-serve station.

• Produce Bag - Bags used to hold produce, meat, bulk food, or other food items.

• Third-party food delivery platform - Online food ordering and delivery services that a food service establishment utilize.

Compostable Produce Bag Requirement

What your business needs to know

What is Required:
Bags used to hold produce, meat, bulk food, or other food items must be acceptable in the City's compost collection program.
The City’s compost program accepts paper bags and bags made of compostable plastic if they meet the ASTM Standard Specifications for compostability (D6400 or D6868), or the product is Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certified.

Who is Affected: 
All retail service establishments and farmers markets that use produce bags as defined above are affected. This includes grocery stores, markets, and farmers markets.

Disposable Foodware Items Ordinance

What your business needs to know

Items Affected:
Plastic utensils, straws, stirrers, drink plugs, wrapped or bundled utensils and condiments, and other small plastic foodware items.

Who is affected: 

• All food service establishments will be affected. This includes restaurants, bars, delis, grocery stores, food trucks, hotels, convenience stores —anyone serving food in Palo Alto.
• Third-party food delivery and food service establishments that provide online ordering and delivery services in Palo Alto.

What is required: 

• Use only reusable or compostable utensils, straws, stirrers, drink plugs, unbundled utensils and condiments, and other small plastic foodware items.
• Compostable items must be acceptable in the City's compost collection program. 
  Detailed list of acceptable materials
• Offer these disposable items (i.e., the individual compostable items) only upon request, via a self-serve station, or provide customers with the ability to "opt-in" to receive utensils and condiments on online ordering and delivery platforms.

Switch To Reusables

Palo Alto's long-term plan

Palo Alto’s long-term plan is to eliminate the use of disposable foodware items. Disposable foodware items are those created to be used once then discarded. They even include items made from recyclable or compostable materials. Free technical assistance is available to help your business switch to reusable items. Contact Zero Waste Palo Alto for more information.

Reducing Takeout Waste

Check out this Vox video. It does a good job explaining the problem and solutions to takeout waste.