City of Marina Polystyrene Ban

In 2007, the Monterey Chapter began working with the Monterey Regional Waste Management District and supported their effort to draft a regional template for a polystyrene food service wares ordinance. The chapter worked with coalition members to build interest in Marina to adopt this ordinance locally. The City Council heard the issue a couple times in 2008 and decided to pursue an ordinance, but this item did not return to the council's agenda until September 2011. A first reading of the ordinance occurred in October 2011. The council waived the second reading and adopted the ordinance on their consent calendar Nov. 1, 2011. The Marina ordinance precludes food providers, special events promoters, and the City itself from using or providing food in disposable polystyrene foam containers. The ordinance further requires that all disposable food wares be biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable.