Resolution 1277A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, ESTABLISHING A POLICY
REQUIRING THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF EDMONDS, ITS
TENANTS, RENTERS, AND ALL OFFICIALLY
SANCTIONED USERS OF ITS FACILITIES AND PARKS TO
EMPLOY ONLY REUSABLE OR COMPOSTABLE FOOD
SERVICE ITEMS� AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE
DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds (the "City") has a duty to protect the natural
WHEREAS, in addition to waste reduction, the Washington State Legislature in RCW
X95�010(8-16) also identified the following as priorities: waste reduction, recycling, avoiding
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need to reduce, source separate, and recycle solid waste, and government entities setting an
example by implementing aggressive waste reduction programs at their workplaces and by
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature in RCW 70,95.010(4) found that it is
"necessary to change manufacturing and purchasing practices and waste generation behaviors to
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the responsibility of city governments ?Ito assume primary responsibility for solid waste
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food packaging and foodservice items serve a limited purpose that is disproportionately
food packaging and service ware are often used and disposed of in minutes or days, they take
thousands • years to decompose, and lead to devastating effects such as pollution and harm to
marine life, wildlife, and public health; and
commonly used plastic -based i•i packaging and service ware, however, there are alternative
multi -use or compostable products that can serve the same purpose as polystyrene and plastic -
WHEREAS, polystyrene and other plastic -based, single -use, non-compostable foo,3,
packaging and service ware represent an unnecessary use • a nonrenewable resource, especially
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WHEREAS, replacing the use of polystyrene and other plastic -based, non-compostable
food packaging and service ware with those that are reusable and compostable is recognized as a
sustainable option to protect the environment and to conserve resources; and
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WHEREAS, the City of Edmonds itself needs to lead the way in the effort to eliminate
the use of polystyrene or other plastic -based, single -use, non-compostable food packaging and
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WHEREAS, the Edmonds City Council finds that reduction in use of polystyrene anj
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interest of public health, safety, and welfare for the citizens of Edmonds and the environment;
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Comprehensive Plan- Community Sustainability Element Climate Change Goal E, Community
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or provide single -use polystyrene or other plastic -based, non-compostable food service
packaging or ware for any City -sponsored function providing food and/or beverages to its
participants. This covers the full range of items for this purpose, including, but not limited to,
cups, plates, utensils, straws and stir sticks, napkins or bibs, etc. This also includes the
packaging materials covering and protecting any food or beverage provided, with the exceptions
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noted below. Minor stock of any such items in City possession after this date will be consumed,
but no further purchases of such materials will be made.
Section 2. All tenants, renters, and officially -recognized users of City -owned
buildings and parks are strongly encouraged to comply with the same restrictions and are given
the same exceptions as provided in this policy for governmental operations. Any contract or
written guidelines intended for use with such an entity or group after June 1, 2012, will include
language consistent with this policy and this section.
Section 3. Exclusions:
a. Common food and beverage containers, such as aluminum and steel
cans, plastic bottles and jugs, and paper milk cartons, all of which are
readily recyclable throughout the City;
b. Typically small, single -serve items that, because of waste or food
safety issues, are otherwise problematic to provide. These items also
generally contribute a very minor additional load to landfills. This
includes individual coffee creamer packets or cups, and small butter,
jam, syrup, condiment, etc., packets;
c. Plastic wrap intended to seal food containers in the absence of a lid or
cover that could not be used because of the shape or size of area to
cover;
d. Zip -lock and folding plastic bags meant to preserve and carry leftover
food during handling and storage for later use;
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e. Single -serve food items that come prepackaged from manufacturers
f. Finally, it is not intended that this policy be applied to what individual
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and service levels provided by local companies. As labeling becomes more explicit and
informative, as opportunities to recycle materials come more widely into practice, and as new
materials enter the marketplace, it is the intent of the City of Edmonds that this policy will be
reviewed and revised to enable greater sustainability and more paths to reduce, reuse, and
APP OVED-
MAYOR, DAVID 0. EA
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 05-18-201
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 05-22-201
RESOLUTION NO, 1277 F1
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