AB 904 (FEUER): FOOD PACKAGING BAN

This bill would require all foodservice facilities in the state to:

• Use only recyclable or compostable food packaging that is accepted by a curbside pickup program in the restaurant’s local jurisdiction.
• Take back any food packaging through an onsite recycling or composting collection program.
• Have all food packaging in the state recycled or composted at a rate of at least 25% by 2012.

WHY THIS IS BAD FOR RESTAURANTS:

• De-facto ban on most food packaging due to curbside recycling requirement. Most local jurisdictions do not accept current food packaging in curbside programs and many locations do not have curbside recycling programs like LA County.
• Alternative packaging is not functional, available, or cost effective. The main alternative to plastic packaging is compostable bio-based packaging that melts under hot temperatures, is not available in large quantities now, and is two to three times the cost of traditional plastics.
• Take back provision is unrealistic as trash would likely have to be sorted at the restaurant, violating many state and local health codes.

SB 899 (SIMITIAN): STYRENE CHEMICAL BAN

This bill would ban the use of various chemicals in the state, including styrene, bisphenol-A, perflourooctanoic acid, vinyl chloride, nonylphenol, or alkylphenol.

WHY THIS IS BAD FOR RESTAURANTS:

• This would ban the use of all polystyrene and polypropylene packaging.
• This would also ban the use or sale of cookware that uses Teflon.