A CLEANER WAY TO-GO

Truckee’s New Single-Use Foodware Reduction Ordinance

Did you know that single-use food packaging accounts for 68% of litter found in Truckee? Items like plastic utensils, straws, coffee cups, to-go boxes, and more often end up in landfills, streams, lakes, trails, and oceans. Plastic is the worst for the environment, since it doesn’t biodegrade. Students and community members know it’s an issue—they’ve been discussing it, arguing about it, and offering solutions in classrooms, on social media, in our local newspapers, and more.

The Town of Truckee has been listening. After reviewing community feedback, the Truckee Town Council approved a single-use foodware reduction ordinance on November 8, 2022. The new ordinance is mainly directed at businesses, requiring that they provide customers with alternatives to single-use foodware and charging guests for disposable food containers.

The ordinance includes the following:

• A ban on the sale and distribution of Styrofoam (expanded polystyrene) – effective April 1, 2023

• Food vendors must provide dine-in customers with reusable foodware – effective January 1, 2024

• Businesses must charge a $0.25 customer fee on disposable cups and takeout food containers – effective January 1, 2024

• Accessory foodware items (utensils, napkins, sauce packets, etc.) should only be provided upon a customer’s request – effective January 1, 2024

While compostable products, like those made from corn, sugarcane, or other plant-based materials, might sound like a reasonable alternative, they are not accepted at most composting facilities, including Truckee’s, and instead end up in the landfill.

Hopefully, these ordinances will shift our perspective and create a new culture that makes reusable foodware the norm. One option is Truckee’s Green Box To-Go Containers. If you don’t have one, you can buy one at Tahoe Food Hub, or the next time you order to-go food at a participating restaurant, make sure and request the $5 green box. When you order food to go, bring your clean, green container to the counter and swap it out.

Participating restaurants include Maki Ali, Red Truck, Stella, RMU, Siam Cuisine, Sierra Bakehouse, Old Town Tap, Tahoe Food Hub, Best Pies, and Wild Cherries (coming soon). Are you planning on eating out? Remember to bring your food container to take home leftovers.