Key hearing set on plan to curtail plastic foodware

Larkspur is moving closer toward adopting a reusable foodware ordinance to ban single-use plastics.

The city has set a public hearing to consider the ordinance on April 19. Officials have proposed a law that will align the city's rules and enforcement with an ordinance adopted by the Marin County Board of Supervisors last year.

If approved, the ordinance would take effect Nov. 10.

The city spent the past two months collecting comments on the proposal and the City Council held a public workshop at its meeting on March 15.

“It's heartbreaking to see all the plastic that comes up on our beaches or in our waterways, especially after storms,” said Susan Hopp, a Mill Valley resident and co-chair of the Plastic Free Marin advocacy group.

Hopp said continuing to use plastic the way we do is “truly unsustainable,” and that there are many reasons to adopt the ordinance.

Hopp said plastic-lined containers are coated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, which resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. The chemicals are endocrine disruptors that could interfere with the human body's hormones.

“You want to be assured that you know your takeout container is not lined with these chemicals known as forever chemicals,” Hopp said. “This ordinance addresses that. It brings us to a standard of health and really the beauty that we love and appreciate in Marin County.”

Larkspur resident Julie Munro said the Marin community was making great strides to reduce the proliferation of plastics, but the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the progress.

“More than ever, Larkspur needs to join and be a good example,” Munro said. She added that she hopes “it will inspire innovation and reduction of plastics in general.”

“We have to do it for our future, for our planet,” Munro said.

Under the new ordinance, businesses would be required to use specific types of compostable foodware for takeout services and reusable items for dine-in customers.

The acceptable takeout items are natural-fiber compostable foodware that has been certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute. The only alternative would be aluminum.

WM EarthCare, which processes Marin's compost, only accepts organic compost. Any other compost ends up in a landfill.

The ordinance would apply to grocery store food counters, restaurants, delis, bakeries, farmers markets, food trucks, carry-out vendors and other food service providers in Larkspur.

“Anything that we can do to eradicate the use of those chemicals and any product that may end up in a landfill or any other disposal site is a good idea.”

— Larkspur Councilmember Kevin Haroff

Enforcement would be conducted by Marin County Environmental Health Services. Delegating enforcement to the county comes at a cost of $3,209. However, that fee will be waived if the city adopts the ordinance by May 10, which it is on track to do.

Councilmember Kevin Haroff said the PFAS chemicals are a problem.

“Anything that we can do to eradicate the use of those chemicals and any product that may end up in a landfill or any other disposal site is a good idea,” he said. “This is something I strongly support.”

Mayor Gabe Paulson said he's happy to see the city moving toward the ordinance.

“The partnership with the county and the standardization of this is something I really look forward to,” Paulson said.

Tiburon has also opted in. Other Marin communities are considering the update, with some aiming to meet the May 10 deadline.

Corte Madera decided last month to continue studying options. Novato and San Anselmo have set council discussions for today.