New S.F. Law Requires Compostable or Recyclable To-Go Containers

Effective June 1, 2007, San Francisco food vendors may no longer use polystyrene foam otherwise known as Styrofoam™ and must use compostable or recyclable disposable food service ware or to-go containers unless there is no suitable product that is within 15% of the cost of non-compostable or non-recyclable alternatives.

All San Francisco food vendors selling prepared food must use compostable or recyclable food service ware. Restaurants, delis, fast food establishments, vendors at fairs, food trucks, and all City facilities and contractors must follow this law.

• Coated and uncoated paper or other natural fiber products
• Plant-based plastic-like products that are clearly labeled (preferably in green) as “compostable”

Aluminum foil and recyclable plastic such as #2, #4 and #5 tubs and lids.

Compostable food ware distributors list

Food Service Ware flier in Spanish (pdf)
Food Service Ware flier in Chinese (pdf)

SF Environment Food Service Ware Fairs

• March 28th, 2007
• April 10th, 2007
• April 12th, 2007

These fairs are free of charge and open to all food vendors and restaurant owners and managers. Attendance to one of the fairs is highly recommended.

San Francisco Department of the Environment (SF Environment) offers resources and assistance to help you find suitable food service ware for your business and to set up food scrap and compostables collection with your waste hauler. To schedule a free, on-site visit for recycling technical assistance call 415-355-3745

To effectively reduce the negative environmental impacts of to-go food service ware, make our city healthier and help our city achieve zero waste to landfill, San Francisco has adopted the Food Service Waste Reduction Law. Similar ordinances are now being adopted across California. By using compostable food service ware, your business may be able to divert more waste from the landfill and get up to a 75% discount on your trash service costs. Failure to comply will result in fines (PDF - please see page 9).

• Styrofoam is made from crude oil and is non-renewable, non-compostable and currently remains an unfeasible recyclable commodity.
• Styrofoam also breaks up into small pieces and can be ingested by marine or bird life, killing them through starvation.
• The production of Styrofoam is toxic to our environment it cannot be composted or recycled and studies have shown that chemicals in polystyrene foam are carcinogenic and can leach into food or drink.