Help needed on plastic foodware ban

In 2020, the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability passed a ban on the distribution of plastic foodware by restaurants, requiring the use of fiber-based items instead.

Though the city of San Mateo has adopted the ban, our youth group noticed continued distribution of plastic foodware. We completed an informal survey of San Mateo businesses and found that many of them were, unfortunately, unaware of San Mateo’s plastic ban or struggled to switch away from plastics for financial reasons.

Additionally, out of all twenty cities in the county, our youth group spoke with the four city councils that have not yet adopted the plastic ban (Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Woodside, and Portola Valley). We have successfully put the ban on their agendas and even persuaded Menlo Park’s Environmental Quality Commission to pass a motion to make a formal recommendation for Menlo Park to pass a ban.

However, the work is not done. We need your help to urge these cities and restaurants to stop using plastic. If you notice a food facility in San Mateo County that is not in compliance with the plastic ordinance, please help the County support them by filling out this form: bit.ly/smc_plastic_ban.

Finally, to readers wanting to join our fight for health, justice, and the environment, join Citizens’ Climate Lobby today.

Nikki Donovan

San Mateo