Milpitas Municipal Code Ch. 8 Prohibition of Expanded Polystyrene (eps) Foam Food Service Ware

The City Council finds and determines that the regulation of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam food service ware is necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare based on the following reasons:

A. Plastic debris and, in particular, expanded polystyrene foam ("EPS") is a distinctive litter concern because it is lightweight, floats, breaks down into small pieces, and readily travels from land to inland waterways and out to the ocean where it can be mistaken for food by birds and other marine wildlife;

B. The Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association (BASMAA) found in its May 2014 study San Francisco Bay Area Stormwater Trash Generation Rates that EPS disposable food service ware comprises 6% by volume of trash observed in storm drains; and

C. The Santa Clara Valley Urban Runoff Pollution Prevention Program found in its September 2016 study Storm Drain Trash Monitoring and Characterization Project - Technical Report states "…there was a 74% decrease in the volume of EPS food service ware observed in the 53 sites in common between this Project and the BASMAA Trash Generation Rates Study (BASMAA 2014). This large decrease coincides with ordinances that have been adopted throughout most of the Santa Clara Valley."; and

D. EPS disposable food service ware is currently used by some food vendors in Milpitas; and

E. The proposed prohibition of EPS disposable food service ware would require food vendors to use alternative food service ware that will result in a reduction of EPS litter, reduce the risk of harm to aquatic wildlife, and improve water quality in the Milpitas creeks and the Southern San Francisco Bay.

This City Council does, accordingly, find and declare that it should restrict the provision of EPS foam food service ware.

(Ord. No. 293, § 3, 8-15-17)

The definitions set forth in this Section shall govern the application and interpretation of this Chapter.

A. "Disposable food service ware" means single-use disposable products used in the restaurant and food service industry for serving prepared food and includes, but is not limited to, plates, trays, cups, bowls, and hinged or lidded containers (clamshells). Disposable food service ware does not include straws, utensils, drink lids, or ice chests.

B. "Food vendor" means any establishment located in the City of Milpitas that sells or otherwise provides prepared food for consumption on or off its premises, and includes, but is not limited to, any shop, sales outlet, restaurant, bar, pub, coffee shop, cafeteria, caterer, convenience store, liquor store, grocery store, supermarket, delicatessen, mobile food truck, vehicle or cart, or roadside stand.

C. "Polystyrene foam" means a thermoplastic petrochemical material made from a styrene monomer and expanded or blown using a gaseous agent (expanded polystyrene) including, but not limited to, fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, form molding, and extrusion-blow molding (extruded foam polystyrene). "Polystyrene foam" is commonly made into disposable food service ware products. "Polystyrene foam" does not include clear or solid polystyrene (oriented polystyrene).

D. "Prepared food" means food or beverages that are packaged, cooked, chopped, sliced, mixed, brewed, frozen, squeezed or otherwise prepared on the premises. "Prepared food" does not include (1) any raw, uncooked meat products, fruits, or vegetables, unless it is intended for consumption without further preparation; or (2) prepackaged food that is delivered to the food vendor wholly encased, contained or packaged in a container or wrapper, and sold or otherwise provided by the food vendor in the same container or packaging.

(Ord. No. 293, § 3, 8-15-17)

No food vendor shall sell or otherwise provide prepared food in polystyrene foam disposable food service ware on or after July 1, 2018.

(Ord. No. 293, § 3, 8-15-17)

A. A food vendor may seek a grace period from the prohibition under Section III-8-3.00 due to a "unique packaging hardship" under Subsection B of this Section, or the grace period for "unused inventory" under Subsection C of this Section.

B. The food vendor must demonstrate that no reasonably feasible alternative exists to a specific and necessary polystyrene foam disposable food service ware to qualify for a "unique packaging hardship" exemption.

C. The food vendor must demonstrate that before December 31, 2017, it purchased the polystyrene foam food service ware, which cannot be returned to the distributor, and, despite the food vendor's best efforts, will remain in inventory on July 1, 2018, to qualify for an "unused inventory" grace period.

D. Food vendors may submit a written application for grace period on a form provided by the Public Works Department. The City Engineer or his or her designee may require the applicant to submit additional information or documentation to make a determination regarding the grace period request. A request for grace period under Subsection B shall be reviewed upon a case-by-case basis, and may be granted in whole or in part, with or without conditions, for a period of up to 12 months. A food vendor must apply for a new grace period under Subsection B no later than 60 days prior to the expiration of the then-current grace period to preserve a continuous exemption status. A request for grace period under Subsection C shall be reviewed upon a case-by-case basis, and may be granted in whole or in part, with or without conditions, for a period of up to three months or to October 1, 2018, whichever comes first. The determination of the City Engineer or designee shall be final and is not subject to appeal.

(Ord. No. 315, § 2, 1/7/25; Ord. No. 293, § 3, 8-15-17)

In addition to any other remedy available at law, the City may enforce any violation of this Chapter pursuant to Section I-1-4.09 of the Milpitas Municipal Code or by administrative citation pursuant to Title I, Chapter 21 of the Milpitas Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 293, § 3, 8-15-17)