HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-231 - Resolutions RESOLUTION NO. 07-231
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, PROHIBITING THE
USE OF EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE (COMMONLY
REFERRED TO AS "STYROFOAM") FOOD SERVICE
PRODUCTS WITHIN CITY FACILITIES AND AT CITY-
SPONSORED EVENTS
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Cucamonga desires to protect the natural
environment for present and future generations; and
WHEREAS, expanded polystyrene, a petroleum based product that is frequently
used for food service purposes, does not effectively biodegrade in the environment, and merely
breaks down into smaller particles that litter City streets, parks, public places, open spaces, and
waterways; and
WHEREAS, the litter problem resulting from expanded polystyrene is
increasingly difficult to manage and contributes to urban blight as litter especially due to its
lightweight nature as it floats in water and/or is easily blown in the wind from place to place,
even when disposed of properly; and
WHEREAS, expanded polystyrene enters various waterways from direct and
indirect sources, and poses a risk to land and marine wildlife, which often perish as a result of
ingesting expanded polystyrene products; and
WHEREAS, expanded polystyrene food service products, by their nature, have a
useful life that can be measured in minutes or hours, yet takes several decades to hundreds of
years to deteriorate in the environment or landfill; and
WHEREAS, there is currently no meaningful recycling of food service expanded
polystyrene products, due in part to contamination from food residue; and
WHEREAS, biodegradable and recyclable products offer environmentally sound
alternatives to products currently used, and are readily available at a reasonable cost.
Biodegradable products decay, causing less harm to the environment and the landscape of the
City than expanded polystyrene products now in use. Use and recycling of those alternative
products saves the cost of disposing of waste in landfills and the energy and other resources
used in production of new products; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Cucamonga desires to exercise environmental
stewardship by reducing the amount of expanded polystyrene debris that enters the storm
drains, watershed and surrounding environment, and reduce the amount of expanded
polystyrene that enters our waste stream.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
CUCAMONGA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Resolution No. 07-231
Page 2 of 3
SECTION 1: The City of Rancho Cucamonga shall no longer purchase or
acquire food service products which are produced with expanded
polystyrene. Prohibited products include, but are not limited to,
expanded polystyrene food service items such as cups, plates,
bowls, cartons and trays.
SECTION 2: The use or distribution of expanded polystyrene food service
products at all City-owned properties or City facilities shall be
prohibited. Rental agreements for usage of these properties shall
require that contracting parties assume responsibility for
preventing the utilization and/or distribution of expanded
polystyrene food service products by any attendee or vendor at the
associated function. All rental agreements shall indicate that a
portion of the contractor's security deposit will be forfeited if the
City Manager, or his/her designee, determines expanded
polystyrene food service products were utilized in violation of the
rental agreement.
SECTION 3: The use or distribution of expanded polystyrene food service
products at all events that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the
City of Rancho Cucamonga shall be prohibited. This prohibition
shall apply to the event organizers, agents of the event organizers,
event vendors, and any other party, including non-profit
organizations, who enter into an agreement with one or more of
the co-sponsors of the event to sell goods or beverages at the
event or otherwise provide an event-related service The
prohibition on the use of expanded polystyrene food service
products will not be enforced upon individuals who are attending
the event solely as a visitor or spectator.
Written agreements with any vendor, including non-profit
organizations, to sell food or beverages at a City-sponsored event,
shall specifically prohibit the usage and distribution of expanded
polystyrene food service products. Written agreements shall
indicate that any party found in violation of the agreement are
subject to penalty, up to and including forfeiture of the event and
all fees associated with the event.
SECTION 4: The provisions of this Resolution shall take effect ninety days after
its passage and adoption. The senior lunch program shall be
given one-hundred eighty days after the passage and adoption of
the Resolution in order to comply with the terms and conditions.
SECTION 5: All individuals, groups, businesses, non-governmental and other
governmental entities are strongly encouraged to assist in
preserving the environment by ceasing to purchase and use
expanded polystyrene food service products.
Resolution No. 07-231
Page 3 of 3
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 1 g`h day of September 2007.
AYES: Gutierrez, Kurth, Spagnolo, Williams
NOES: None
ABSENT: Michael
ABSTAINED: None
oe"-c-ed
Donald J. Kurth, M.1 ., Mayor
ATTEST:
6j-jx "nc��
e ra J. Ada CMC, City Clerk
I, DEBRA J. ADAMS, CITY CLERK of the City of Rancho Cucamonga,
California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved and
adopted by the City Council of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, California, at a Regular Meeting
of said City Council held on the 1g`h day of September 2007.
Executed this 20`h day of September 2007, at Rancho Cucamonga, California.
Debra J. Ad M , City Clerk