This past January Berkeley California passed groundbreaking legislation that seeks to reduce the use of single use plastic and non-biodegradable foodware. After a dozen speakers this law was unanimously approved.
Councilwoman Sophie Hahn and Mayor Jesse Arreguín described their new law as “the most ambitious, comprehensive legislation to reduce throw-away foodware in the United States.”
This law mandates that by 2020 all dine-in foodware must be resusable, and all take-out foodware must be compostable. A 25 cent charge will be levied for disposable cups to encourage consumers to bring their own. This legislation is touted as an important step and symbolic example for a pathway to “Zero Waste” goal for urban centers.
This initiative was in part inspired by the Oxford Elementary School 3rd graders Zero Waste classroom project to reduce their plastic waste over a period of 180 days to the volume of a Mason Jar.
