Eco Totes in El Cerrito

eco friendlyMuch like most cities in California, the city of El Cerrito is considering to place a ban on poly bag circulation and also on polystyrene boxes meant for parcelling food from restaurants. This law shall be based on the mock ordinance framed by Recycle More, authority for waste management at West Contra Costa.

Areas Affected

Recycle More also covers San Pablo, Richmond, Pinole, and Hercules but Richmond, San Pablo, and El Cerrito are the only cities who have taken the ordinance into consideration, said Garth Schultz, the city’s environmental analyst. The final decision will be based on the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) sanctioned by Recycle More in April, 2013.

El Cerrito Ordinance Supports Eco totes:

  • The ordinance will place a ban on retail shops, but not on restaurants and not-for profit organisations (NPOs), from giving out free paper and plastic bags as parcel packing.
  • The bags given out must be made from paper and must be available only at a cost of 5 cents each.
  • The bags should be made from a minimum of 40 per cent recycled material.
  • Restaurants would be required to change styrene containers with a recyclable container.

Recycle More’s EIR

The El Cerrito Ordinance has been delayed owing to the time consumed by Recycle More’s EIR that took 9 months to get finalized, not to mention the huge $50,000 spent on it. Recycle More’s mock-up of the ordinance is inspired by the ordinances passed in San Francisco and San Jose, and Los AngelesCounty, stated Chris Lehon, the Executive Director of Recycle More.

Hazards from Styrene

  • Non-recyclable Styrene can get washed away by rain water and further into rivers and oceans.
  • While heating the container, Styrene could penetrate into the food items, thereby harming the human body.
  • According to latest updates, the National Toxicology Program and the Environmental Protection Agency are considering the option of changing the categorization of styrene from a “possible” carcinogen to a “probable” carcinogen.
  • EIR is not required for banning of styrene container, said Lehon.

Use of eco totes shall help prevent the above risks.

Progress

The city staff of El Cerrito’s will present the ordinances and accommodate the suggestions and comments sent in by the residents, on June 11 and July 9, 2013 in a meeting which shall be held at City Hall, 10890-San Pablo Avenue.

If everything goes as planned, the ordinance shall be passed and would come into effect from January 1, 2014.

Source: http://www.contracostatimes.com/west-county-times/ci_23307789/el-cerrito-considers-ban-single-use-bags

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