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Uploaded: Tuesday, April 20, 2010, 8:39 AM
Polystyrene on its way out of Palo Alto
City's ban on foamy take-out containers begins on Earth Day
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by Gennady Sheyner
Palo Alto Online Staff
Polystyrene containers are making a permanent exodus from Palo Alto's food establishments this Thursday -- the latest target in the city's war against bay pollutants.
The city's ban on the foamy, take-out containers is scheduled to go in effect on Earth Day. The City Council approved the ban last May, at around the time the city's ban on plastic bags at supermarkets went into effect. But unlike the bag ban, which has a relatively narrow scope, the polystyrene ban would be applied to restaurants, cafeterias, sidewalk and outdoor vendors and caterers, according to a report from Public Works Department associate engineer Karin North.
The report characterizes polystyrene containers as a product full of "hidden costs" for the public and the environment. It degrades slowly in nature, hard to contain and often ends up in local creeks, the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, North said. It also makes up 15 percent of the litter found in storm drains, the report stated.
"Expanded polystyrene foam presents unique management issues because it is lightweight, floats, resists biodegradation, and easily breaks into small pieces," North wrote. "These small pieces can be ingested by marine wildlife, leading to reduced appetite and nutrient absorption and possible death by starvation."
Phil Bobel, the city's environmental compliance manager, said staff tried to recycle polystyrene but found the cost too high and the demand too low. He said food vendors were alerted last year that the ban would take affect, giving them time to phase out their existing stock of the foamy containers.
The outreach may explain why there was seemingly no opposition to the ban. Not a single person spoke out against the new ban Monday night. Bobel said staff hosted numerous public hearings on the polystyrene ban and mailed out several reminders to businesses. He said no one had any serious objections to the proposed ban.
He said the city would make sure its larger businesses are complying with the ban when staff visits these businesses through other programs. The city will deal with smaller businesses "on a complaint basis," Bobel said.
"I really think we'll find a high level of compliance," Bobel said. "Where we don't, we'll be asking people in a nice way to discontinue it as soon as possible."
Though the city can levy a $200 fine on those who don't comply, Bobel said he doesn't "envision any enforcement actions as necessary."
Council members were full of praise for the new ban. Greg Scharff said he was excited about the new polystyrene ban, while Vice Mayor Sid Espinosa praised staff for its outreach efforts to the community.
"This has been well communicated and the rollout has been smooth," Espinosa said.
Related story:
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Posted by Susan Stansbury, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Apr 20, 2010 at 10:56 am Well done, Palo Alto staff! Polystyrene containers are both unsightly and a huge marine problem. It is great to see the end of them in Palo Alto. Hopefully many other communities will follow your lead!
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Posted by rem, a resident of the Adobe-Meadows neighborhood, on Apr 20, 2010 at 11:23 am And just what are they/we going to use for "doggy bagging". In other words what is going to be used for "take home" and carry out!!!!
Oh well, I quit going to downtown Palo Alto years ago.. University Street has priced itself out of business. Then there is the traffic and the parking problem....
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Posted by Kate, a resident of the Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood, on Apr 20, 2010 at 11:55 am Rem, it's calleD P-A-P-E-R. Starbucks uses it, so does Su-Hong's and Scott's and just about everybody else. I think McD's has switched over. It's NO problem.
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Posted by More enforcement, a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood, on Apr 20, 2010 at 12:07 pm Yes, but we can still bring in and dispose of polystytrene from neighboring cities. We need a complete ban on possession with check points set up at all entrances in the city to confiscate and arrest residents with polystyrene in their possesion.
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Posted by cieboy, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Apr 20, 2010 at 12:21 pm Rem use a bicycle! Lots of parking available for bikes....via bike friendly Bryant Ave to get to University...
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Posted by Wha?, a resident of another community, on Apr 21, 2010 at 10:44 am Oh I am waiting for the comments on how this is an infringement on people's rights and unconstitutional! I am so fatigued by all this nonesense. The containers in question are bad for all of us on the planet. Please stop thinking only within the confines of your own little heads. So Palo Alto!
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Posted by Nayeli, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 21, 2010 at 8:29 pm It would be nice to see the research upon which these Big Brother laws are based. Is the departments research based upon, well, its own limited Googling? Or did they gather some peer reviewed articles upon which to base this decision?
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Posted by Freida, a resident of the Barron Park neighborhood, on Apr 21, 2010 at 9:48 pm Yea!!!! Good job Palo Alto City Council.
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Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Apr 22, 2010 at 3:07 am
Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online None of the substitutes for polystyrene have the insulating value of polystyrene, and so the consumer is denied the comfort of hot coffee, cold soda or a warm burger. Once again, the convenience of the consumer is left out of the equation. I am a bit peckish on this issue because the paper handle of my paper grocery bag came off yesterday when I was carrying my purchases in through the rain. Time to grease up the tumbrels again, the aristocracy has pushed us peasants too far.
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Posted by Bob Wenzlau, a resident of the Crescent Park neighborhood, on Apr 22, 2010 at 11:14 am
Bob Wenzlau is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online This change delights me as well - thanks Palo Alto - and Walter, I have actually found the biodegradable packaging is more soothing to my hands, strong, insulating. I count this as an environmental win and consumer win! I will buy my takeout in Palo Alto where I know the restaurants - now with food waste composting as well - are working hard to improve their environmental footprint with their tasty food. Happy Earth Day!
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Posted by Natty, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Apr 22, 2010 at 3:15 pm Too bad palo alto doesn't recycle polystyrene. It recycles beter than most of the things we put in the blue bins.
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