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HomeMy WebLinkAbout30 - Policy Direction regarding PolystyreneCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item No. 30 June 12, 2007 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: City Manager's Office Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager 949/644 -3002 ordkiff @city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Policy Direction regarding Polystyrene Use in Newport Beach ISSUE: What should be done to reduce or eliminate the amount of polystyrene that appears on our beaches and in our local waterways? RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to pursue one or more (or none) of the polystyrene reduction options listed in this staff report and to return at a future meeting with implementation language for additional consideration. DISCUSSION: In recent weeks, students at Newport Harbor High School have asked the City to consider a ban on polystyrene (also known as Styrofoam@) in our community, in order to attempt to reduce the amount of polystyrene in our waterways and on our beaches. Polystyrene is a commonly found waste product on our beaches, and does not decompose rapidly. If the City Council is concerned about the quantity of polystyrene found in the community, it could do a variety of things to reduce the amount of it that end up as waste: Tier 1 - Activities that Do Not Involve a Ban A. Increase penalties for littering. B. Increase enforcement against littering. C. Increase amount of street - sweeping where trash tends to accumulate. D. Expand the City's catch basin screen program, keeping as much trash out of our waterways by keeping it out of the storm drain system. E. Work within the National Pollutant D/scharge Elimination System (NPDES) and with the Regional Water Board to encourage upstream cities to expand their catch basin screen Polystyrene Options June 12, 2007 Page 2 programs (many cities don't ha ve the programs at all), to better enforce anti - litter laws, and to add to the number of trash booms in key waterways that end up in Newport Bay or the Santa Ana River F. Adopt a community recognition program for businesses, schools, and other entities that follow key trash reduction principles, including on -site recycling, participation in Coastal Clean -up Days, and ending or reducing the amount of non - biodegradable packaging products they use (including polystyrene) COMMENTS: Each of these Tier 1 ideas are relatively simple to enact, but could involve some small additional costs to purchase alternative products. According to General Services Director Mark Harmon, items 1 -C and 1 -D will involve significant cost increases, depending on the scope of the program expansion. Tier 2 - Polystyrene Prohibitions Relating to City Activities or Permitted Events A. Adopt a Council Policy prohibiting the Citygovernment from purchasing or using polystyrene. B. Adopt a Council Policy requiring that any City - sponsored special a vent (CDM 5K, OC Marathon, etc) not use polystyrene. C. Direct staff to include language in all new concession contracts that prohibits concessionaires from using polystyrene for food service or packaging and that requires a recycling program at the concession site. D. Adopt a Council Policy that requires any event needing a Special Event Permit (most activities that involve the rental or use of city facilities) to expressly prohibit the use of polystyrene materials for the special event. COMMENTS: These Tier 2 ideas can be enacted without too much difficulty, provided that we are able to find comparable products (especially for food service and food warming) to replace polystyrene. It may be somewhat difficult to proactively enforce the Special Event Permit restrictions, so we may end up doing that on an after - the -fact basis. Holding back a deposit might be a way to make the enforcement aspect of this work. The ideas are generally symbolic in nature, but they could reduce the amount of polystyrene on our beaches to a small extent. In preparing this staff report, I surveyed several departments that may use polystyrene. Celeste Jardine -Haug of the OASIS Senior Center reports that "The daily meals program uses Styrofoam® plates and cups ... they would have to move to paper which might be more money. (As to the) ...Meals on Wheels (program), ...only a couple of things (they use) have Styrofoam®. (OASIS) uses cups only and could move to paper (cardboard). For special events we could use real plates and wash them (lots of time and staff needed) or find a stiffer paper type plate. I believe that would increase cost. All in all, it would be doable." Tier 3 - Outright Bans A. Amend the Municipal Code to prohibit the use of polystyrene by any food service establishment. B. Amend the Municipal Code to prohibit the use of polystyrene by any person using an ocean or bay beach. C. Amend the Municipal Code to prohibit the use of polystyrene by any business, school, government, or non-profit in Newport Beach's corporate limits. D. Amend the Municipal Code to prohibit the use or sale of polystyrene products by any business, school, or non - profit in Newport Beach's corporate limits. Polystyrene Options June 12, 2007 Page 3 COMMENTS: These ideas in Tier 3 require greater enforcement resources and will be challenging to maintain over time. They may have some effect in reducing the amount of polystyrene that ends up in our waterways and on our beaches, but likely not as much of an effect as proponents think. Some (if not most) of the waste we see on our beaches and in our harbor comes from upstream sources or drifts onto our beaches from boats, other watersheds (including the Los Angeles River, the San Gabriel River, and more) after being transported by ocean currents . Each of these Tier 3 options should, as a courtesy, be discussed with local businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, and the restaurant association before enactment. Council may wish to discuss these various alternatives, offer other alternatives not listed here, and direct staff to return with specific implementation of one or more options at a future Council meeting. Committee Action: This item has not been heard by any Committee. Environmental Review: The City Council's approval of this Agenda Item does not require environmental review. Public Notice: This agenda item may be noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the public meeting at which the City Council considers the item). Submitted by: Dave Kiff Assistant City Manager