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Food Service Packaging Requirements
Food Service Packaging Requirements
The City of Seattle is requiring all food service businesses to find packaging alternatives to throw-away food service containers, cups and other products in all food service businesses - restaurants, grocery stores, delis, coffee shops and institutional cafeterias. By July 1, 2010, all food service products designed for one-time-use must be replaced with one-time use products that are either compostable or recyclable.
When does the ban take effect?
Phase one of the ordinance applied only to expanded polystyrene (EPS, sometimes called “Styrofoam”). The foam ban took effect January 1, 2009.
Phase two of the ordinance applies to all throw-away food packaging and service ware. The ban on disposables takes effect July 1, 2010.
What should my business do?
You must stop using EPS foam food service products immediately. Between now and July 1, 2010, you may change to any alternative products, but for the long run the City recommends switching to compostable alternatives. Note that you must change to approved compostable food service packaging or recyclable packaging, including lids, utensils, straws and the like to be fully compliant. All food service businesses serving in one-time-use service ware or packaging must provide compostable and recyclable materials collection bins for customer use.
Why switch to compostable products?
In addition to the negative environmental impacts of EPS foam and throw-away plastics, Seattle wants to compost as much food waste as possible. Compostable products allow your customers easy one-step disposal of food waste and service ware into compost rather than garbage containers in your restaurant.
Where can I find substitute products?
You will find information on compostable or recyclable alternatives wherever you buy food service products. You must use products that are approved compostable by the City of Seattle and the region’s major compost processor, Cedar Grove Composting. SPU provides information on manufacturers, and local distributors of approved packaging products via the Resource Venture website.
Caution: A large number of products advertised as “biodegradable” do not compost in the Seattle system. Because the intent of the City’s program is to minimize landfilling, products designed to be “biodegradable” in a landfill are not acceptable in Seattle. Be sure the products you buy are approved compostable.
Resources
Food Packaging Requirements (pdf) -
Foam Ban Flyer (pdf) - Chinese, Korean, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese translations included
Resources Flyer (pdf)
Site Checklist (pdf)
Related Links
Resource Venture
Cedar Grove Approved Products
Food Packaging Disposables Ban (EPS Ban too) Ordinance
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