Read the full story here Web Link posted Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 1:22 PM
Town Square
Mountain View bans plastic food ware for all restaurants starting in 2023
Original post made on Nov 16, 2021
Read the full story here Web Link posted Tuesday, November 16, 2021, 1:22 PM
Comments (7)
a resident of Blossom Valley
on Nov 16, 2021 at 3:15 pm
Johnny Yuma is a registered user.
While it’s not just a local issue nor does Mountain View have the authority, I wish there was a way to eliminate the constant and increasing flow of junk mail. It’s unnecessary and pure waste.
a resident of Rex Manor
on Nov 16, 2021 at 3:42 pm
Alexander is a registered user.
I'm happy to see this change. Recology has been doing industrial composting for residents for several years now, so moving to compostable containers makes sense for the city.
a resident of Willowgate
on Nov 17, 2021 at 1:35 pm
Patricia Albers is a registered user.
Plastic pollution is not only a waste problem and health problem but also an urgent fossil fuel problem. In the US, plastic is almost always sourced from fracked natural gas. At every stage in its life cycle, especially manufacturing, plastic produces significant emissions. Yet the petrochemical industry is investing billions to expand plastic production by an estimated 40 percent over the next few decades. They're using plastic to compensate for decreasing profits as Americans turn to more sustainable sources of energy. According to a recent report from the Center on International Environmental Law, emissions from plastic threaten the world’s ability to keep temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Thank you to Mountain View City Council members for doing the right thing for the planet!
a resident of Jackson Park
on Nov 19, 2021 at 2:28 pm
Dan Waylonis is a registered user.
Another "feel good" measure without any data to back the ban. Perhaps there are more substantial contributors to landfill waste than disposable utensils?
a resident of Another Mountain View Neighborhood
on Nov 19, 2021 at 2:47 pm
Asklee is a registered user.
I support this measure however MV has to actually start composting these materials. In MV Recology only transports the recyclables. They do not actually do the recycling. That is handled at the SMART station in Sunnyvale.
If you search the What Bin? section of the Recology Mountain View site for “Compostable Plastic Containers” you’ll get this discouraging message saying to put these in the garbage bin. So why can Recology at SM handle industrial composting but SMART cannot?
Plastic-like containers, cups and utensils that are marked or "certified compostable" do not break down well enough in the industrial/commercial composting process. Please put these in the garbage for now until the industry improves the compostability of these products. Thank you.
a resident of Cuesta Park
on Nov 20, 2021 at 11:25 am
Anne Infeld is a registered user.
I agree with Asklee - if Mountain View is asking restaurants to start using plastics that are "certified compostable", the city ought to provide a way to compost them. Otherwise there does not seem to be much of a gain. The reply above that simply says that products "certified compostable" don't actually break down in the composting process sounds like a labeling issue. Is there truly no way to compost these products?
a resident of another community
on Nov 27, 2021 at 12:15 pm
Leticia Winslow is a registered user.
Disposable and bio-degradable bamboo chopsticks could easily replace plastic ware providing a knife isn't needed.
Bamboo is just another invasive, nuisance plant (similar to a weed) and either irradicating or applying its wood to widespread disposable dining use would pose no major loss to various ecosystems.
The other alternative is to serve food that can be easily eaten with one's hands like they do in the Middle East and Africa.
Don't miss out
on the discussion!
Sign up to be notified of new comments on this topic.
Post a comment
Stay informed.
Get the day's top headlines from Mountain View Online sent to your inbox in the Express newsletter.
Worried about the cost of climate change? Here is some hope.
By Sherry Listgarten | 21 comments | 3,099 views
Make Palo Alto prettier than just its parklets, please
By Diana Diamond | 7 comments | 1,769 views
Two Hours - 75,000 Meals – Wanna Help?
By Laura Stec | 0 comments | 1,520 views