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• <br /> WHEREAS, due.to the physical properties of polystyrene, the EPA states "that such • <br /> materials can also have serious impacts on human health, wildlife, the aquatic environment and the <br /> economy"; and • <br /> WHEREAS, in the manufacturing process as well as the use and disposal of products, the <br /> energy consumption, greenhouse gas effect, and other environmental effects, polystyrene's <br /> environmental impacts are rated second highest, according to the California Integrated Waste <br /> Management Board; and <br /> • <br /> WHEREAS, styrene, a component of polystyrene, is a known hazardous substance that <br /> medical evidence and the Food and Drug Administration suggests leaches from polystyrene <br /> containers into food and drink and is a suspected carcinogen and neurotoxin which potentially • . <br /> threatens human health and the general public is not typically warned of such potential hazards; and <br /> WHEREAS, due to these concerns, cities began banning polystyrene foam food service <br /> ware including several California cities such as Berkeley (1990), Oakland (2007),.and San • <br /> Francisco (2007) where local businesses and several national corporations.have successfully <br /> replaced it and other non- biodegradable food service ware with affordable, safe, biodegradable <br /> products; and • . • <br /> . WHEREAS, restricting the use of polystyrene foam and solid disposable food service ware <br /> products and replacing non - biodegradable, non- compostable, non - reusable or non - recyclable food <br /> • service ware with biodegradable, compostable; reusable, or recyclable food service ware products <br /> in Millbrae will further protect the public health and safety of the residents of Millbrae, the.natural <br /> . environment, waterways and wildlife and would advance the City's goal of developing a <br /> sustainable City, and <br /> WHEREAS, in light of the foregoing, the City Council desires to institute two specific <br /> practices by all food vendors in Millbrae and to regulate said practices in City facilities. The first is <br /> that the use of Foam Polystyrene or Solid Polystyrene disposable food service ware will be <br /> prohibited. The second is that all disposable food service ware will be required to be <br /> biodegradable, compostable, reusable, or recyclable unless there is no available biodegradable, <br /> compostable, reusable, or recyclable alternative for a specific application. <br /> THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MILLBRAE HEREBY DOES ORDAIN <br /> AS FOLLOWS: <br /> Page 2 of 7 <br /> 1355798.4 <br />