Chapter 8.07 POLYSTYRENE FOAM FOOD SERVICE WARE

“Affordable” means purchasable by the Food Vendor for same or less purchase cost than the non-biodegradable, non-polystyrene foam alternative.
“ASTM Standard” means meeting the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International Standards D6400 or D6868 for biodegradable and compostable plastics.
“Biodegradable” means the entire product or package will completely break down and return to nature, i.e., decompose into elements found in nature within a reasonably short period of time after customary disposal.
“Compostable” means all materials in the product or package will break down into, or otherwise become part of, usable compost (e.g., soil-conditioning material, mulch) in a safe and timely manner in an appropriate composting program or facility, or in a home compost pile or device. Compostable disposable food service ware includes ASTM-Standard BioPlastics (plastic-like products) that are clearly labeled, preferably with a color symbol, such that any compost collector and processor can easily distinguish the ASTM Standard Compostable plastic from non-ASTM Standard Compostable plastic.
“City Facilities” means any building, structure or vehicles owned or operated by the city of Oakland, its agent, agencies, departments and franchisees.

“Customer” means any person obtaining prepared food from a restaurant or retail food vendor.
“Disposable Food Service Ware” means all containers, bowls, plates, trays, cartons, cups, lids, straws, forks, spoons, knives and other items that are designed for one-time use and on, or in, which any restaurant or retail food vendor directly places or packages prepared foods or which are used to consume foods. This includes, but is not limited to, service ware for takeout foods and/or leftovers from partially consumed meals prepared at restaurants or retail food vendors.
“Food Vendor” means any restaurant or retail food vendor located or operating within the city of Oakland.
“Polystyrene Foam” means and includes blown polystyrene and expanded and extruded foams (sometimes called Styrofoam, a Dow Chemical Co. trademarked form of polystyrene foam insulation) which are thermoplastic petrochemical materials utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by any number of techniques including, but not limited to, fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, foam molding, and extrusion-blow molding (extruded foam polystyrene). Polystyrene foam is generally used to make cups, bowls, plates, trays, clamshell containers, meat trays and egg cartons.
“Prepared Food” means food or beverages, which are served, packaged, cooked, chopped, sliced, mixed, brewed, frozen, squeezed or otherwise prepared on the food vendor’ s premises or within the city of Oakland. For the purposes of this ordinance, “prepared food” does not include raw, butchered meats, fish and/or poultry sold from a butcher case or similar retail appliance. Prepared food may be eaten either on or off the premises, also known as “takeout food”.
“Restaurant” means any establishment located within the city of Oakland that sells prepared food for consumption on, near, or off its premises by customers. “Restaurant,” for purposes of this Chapter, includes itinerant restaurants, pushcarts and vehicular food vendors as those terms are defined in chapters 5.49, 8.08, and 8.09 of the City of Oakland Municipal Code.
“Retail Food Vendor” means any store, shop, sales outlet, or other establishment, including a grocery store or a delicatessen, other than a restaurant, located within the city of Oakland that sells prepared food. (Ord. 12747 (part), 2006)

A. All food vendors using any disposable food service ware will use biodegradable or compostable disposable food service ware unless they can show an affordable biodegradable or compostable product is not available for a specific application. Food vendors are strongly encouraged to reuse food service ware in place of using disposable food service ware. In instances that food vendors wish to use a biodegradable or compostable disposable food service ware product that is not affordable, a food vendor may charge a “take out fee” to customers to cover the cost difference.
B. All city facilities will use biodegradable or compostable disposable food service ware unless they can show an affordable biodegradable or compostable product is not available for a specific application.
C. City franchises, contractors and vendors doing business with the city will use biodegradable or compostable disposable food service ware unless they can show an affordable biodegradable or compostable product is not available for a specific application. (Ord. 12747 (part), 2006)

A. Prepared foods prepared or packaged outside the city of Oakland are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter. Purveyors of food prepared or packaged outside the City of Oakland are encouraged to follow the provisions of this Chapter.
B. Food vendors will be exempted from the provisions of this Chapter for specific items or types of disposable food service ware if the City Administrator or his/her designee finds that a suitable affordable biodegradable or compostable alternative does not exist and/or that imposing the requirements of this Chapter on that item or type of disposable food service ware would cause undue hardship.
C. Polystyrene foam coolers and ice chests that are intended for reuse are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.
D. Disposable food service ware composed entirely of aluminum is exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.
E. Emergency Supply and Services Procurement: In a situation deemed by the City Administrator to be an emergency for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health or safety, city facilities, food vendors, city franchises, contractors and vendors doing business with the city shall be exempt from the provisions of this Chapter. (Ord. 12747 (part), 2006)

1. If the City Administrator or his/her designee determines that a violation of this Chapter occurred, he/she will issue a written warning notice to the food vendor that a violation has occurred.
2. If the food vendor has subsequent violations of this Chapter, the following penalties will apply:
a. A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first violation after the warning notice is given.
b. A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the second violation after the warning notice is given.
c. A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the third and any future violations after the warning notice is given.
3. Food vendors may request an administrative hearing to adjudicate any penalties issued under this Chapter by filing a written request with the City Administrator, or his or her designee. The City Administrator, or his or her designee, will promulgate standards and procedures for requesting and conducting an administrative hearing under this Chapter. Any determination from the administrative hearing on penalties issued under this Chapter will be final and conclusive. (Ord. 12747 (part), 2006)