Single-Use Plastics

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Cupertino's Single-Use Plastics Ordinance was approved by City Council on September 6, 2022. View the ordinance here or watch the council meeting here.

The City of Cupertino City Council approved the ordinance in order to reduce the unnecessary use of single-use disposable plastic food service ware (such as cups, utensils, and containers) by restaurants and other food facilities.

Why is it important?

Plastic is causing a lot of concern because:

  • Plastics and microplastics are now found in the ocean, air, soil, and animals (including humans).
  • Food packaging is often littered, and plastic litter does not biodegrade, it just

Cupertino's Single-Use Plastics Ordinance was approved by City Council on September 6, 2022. View the ordinance here or watch the council meeting here.

The City of Cupertino City Council approved the ordinance in order to reduce the unnecessary use of single-use disposable plastic food service ware (such as cups, utensils, and containers) by restaurants and other food facilities.

Why is it important?

Plastic is causing a lot of concern because:

  • Plastics and microplastics are now found in the ocean, air, soil, and animals (including humans).
  • Food packaging is often littered, and plastic litter does not biodegrade, it just breaks into smaller and smaller pieces.
  • Plastics can leach harmful chemicals into food and beverages.
  • Plastics can be difficult to recycle. When they are recycled it is often into new products such as fleece or composite wood replacements that cannot themselves be recycled (downcycling).
  • Plastic foodware is often used for just a few minutes and then goes to landfill.
  • Plastics production can be bad for air and water near factories which can have an effect on human health.

Many plastic products are important and even life-saving, but humans can reduce or eliminate many single-use plastics without impacting their quality of life.

What can a Single-Use Plastics Foodware Ordinance do?

An ordinance could phase in a variety of requirements for food businesses to reduce the use of single-use plastic and encourage more reusable foodware, such as:

  • Require that prepared takeout food be served using compostable fiber-based cups, containers, utensils, and other accessories
  • Require reusable foodware for dining in.
  • Ban local use and sale of compostable plastic cups and containers.

More information on the proposed ordinance can be found below. City Council will be considering these ideas at a special study session on March 1, 2022 and the public is welcome to attend and share thoughts during public comment opportunities.



How can you get involved ?

Participation for developing the ordinance has now closed. Please help us implement these waste reduction practices by reporting businesses that are not complying with the new regulations.

Ask your questions about single-use plastics

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  • Share I am in favor of addressing the single use plastic issue, but I am not in favor of charging customers a $.25 fee to utilize single use anything. More fees raise up prices and stop restaurants from being competitive. Prices are already up to the point where things are prohibitive. You can't keep adding charges (as in paper bags, etc.) to bill to make things work. Why not consider a compliance program that does not require or encourage a retailer/restaurant or seller of food and/or beverage from having to charge more? on Facebook Share I am in favor of addressing the single use plastic issue, but I am not in favor of charging customers a $.25 fee to utilize single use anything. More fees raise up prices and stop restaurants from being competitive. Prices are already up to the point where things are prohibitive. You can't keep adding charges (as in paper bags, etc.) to bill to make things work. Why not consider a compliance program that does not require or encourage a retailer/restaurant or seller of food and/or beverage from having to charge more? on Twitter Share I am in favor of addressing the single use plastic issue, but I am not in favor of charging customers a $.25 fee to utilize single use anything. More fees raise up prices and stop restaurants from being competitive. Prices are already up to the point where things are prohibitive. You can't keep adding charges (as in paper bags, etc.) to bill to make things work. Why not consider a compliance program that does not require or encourage a retailer/restaurant or seller of food and/or beverage from having to charge more? on Linkedin Email I am in favor of addressing the single use plastic issue, but I am not in favor of charging customers a $.25 fee to utilize single use anything. More fees raise up prices and stop restaurants from being competitive. Prices are already up to the point where things are prohibitive. You can't keep adding charges (as in paper bags, etc.) to bill to make things work. Why not consider a compliance program that does not require or encourage a retailer/restaurant or seller of food and/or beverage from having to charge more? link

    I am in favor of addressing the single use plastic issue, but I am not in favor of charging customers a $.25 fee to utilize single use anything. More fees raise up prices and stop restaurants from being competitive. Prices are already up to the point where things are prohibitive. You can't keep adding charges (as in paper bags, etc.) to bill to make things work. Why not consider a compliance program that does not require or encourage a retailer/restaurant or seller of food and/or beverage from having to charge more?

    Richard Bernhardt asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts. While we had initially considered recommending charges for single-use cups and containers for food businesses to implement, we have decided not to pursue that at this time.  Although, it is possible it can be considered in the future. There are currently a few jurisdictions that encourage or enforce charges for single-use plastic cups that include Berkeley, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma and the main intent with those charges is to incentivize and encourage individuals to bring reusables as opposed to being charged for a single-use item.

  • Share How will this affect the quality of drinks for boba shops? What happens when customers decide to shop at neighbouring cities because of this? A lot of businesses are struggling as is, how will this benefit small business owners by possibly making it more difficult for them to maintain the quality of their product ? on Facebook Share How will this affect the quality of drinks for boba shops? What happens when customers decide to shop at neighbouring cities because of this? A lot of businesses are struggling as is, how will this benefit small business owners by possibly making it more difficult for them to maintain the quality of their product ? on Twitter Share How will this affect the quality of drinks for boba shops? What happens when customers decide to shop at neighbouring cities because of this? A lot of businesses are struggling as is, how will this benefit small business owners by possibly making it more difficult for them to maintain the quality of their product ? on Linkedin Email How will this affect the quality of drinks for boba shops? What happens when customers decide to shop at neighbouring cities because of this? A lot of businesses are struggling as is, how will this benefit small business owners by possibly making it more difficult for them to maintain the quality of their product ? link

    How will this affect the quality of drinks for boba shops? What happens when customers decide to shop at neighbouring cities because of this? A lot of businesses are struggling as is, how will this benefit small business owners by possibly making it more difficult for them to maintain the quality of their product ?

    Tho510 asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question!  We are aware of the unique packaging of boba drinks at many tea businesses and intend to raise this question at the Council Study Session on March 1st at 5:30, which the public is welcome to attend and speak during public comment times. Boba tea businesses in Mountain View, Alameda, and certain cities in San Mateo County are facing similar challenges with local ordinances.

  • Share Most customers are willing to pay more for food/beverages to eliminate plastic? Most restaurant owners/supermarkets are willing to charge more for these products? Doesn't sound very pro-business to me. I see a lot more masks being littered than cups and utensils. Perhaps eliminating the use of masks would help the litter problem. on Facebook Share Most customers are willing to pay more for food/beverages to eliminate plastic? Most restaurant owners/supermarkets are willing to charge more for these products? Doesn't sound very pro-business to me. I see a lot more masks being littered than cups and utensils. Perhaps eliminating the use of masks would help the litter problem. on Twitter Share Most customers are willing to pay more for food/beverages to eliminate plastic? Most restaurant owners/supermarkets are willing to charge more for these products? Doesn't sound very pro-business to me. I see a lot more masks being littered than cups and utensils. Perhaps eliminating the use of masks would help the litter problem. on Linkedin Email Most customers are willing to pay more for food/beverages to eliminate plastic? Most restaurant owners/supermarkets are willing to charge more for these products? Doesn't sound very pro-business to me. I see a lot more masks being littered than cups and utensils. Perhaps eliminating the use of masks would help the litter problem. link

    Most customers are willing to pay more for food/beverages to eliminate plastic? Most restaurant owners/supermarkets are willing to charge more for these products? Doesn't sound very pro-business to me. I see a lot more masks being littered than cups and utensils. Perhaps eliminating the use of masks would help the litter problem.

    Michael Hunt asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for your comment, we appreciate the feedback. Improper disposal and litter of masks is certainly a problem, but the scope of this project is limited to plastic foodware. From our survey last summer we found that many food places are already using paper-based foodware, and depending on what they’ve been using and where they purchase their supplies, the cost to switch to compostable fiber-based alternatives is not universally higher. There  is a lot of variation in the pricing. City Council will be considering this topic at the Study Session on March 1 at 5:30 p.m., including impact to businesses and the idea of providing technical and financial assistance to help businesses transition. The public is welcome to attend that Study Session and speak during public comment times.

  • Share Is there anything the City can do to address the increase in online shopping and the impact it has with plastic packaging materials (i.e. styrofoam, packing peanuts, etc.)? on Facebook Share Is there anything the City can do to address the increase in online shopping and the impact it has with plastic packaging materials (i.e. styrofoam, packing peanuts, etc.)? on Twitter Share Is there anything the City can do to address the increase in online shopping and the impact it has with plastic packaging materials (i.e. styrofoam, packing peanuts, etc.)? on Linkedin Email Is there anything the City can do to address the increase in online shopping and the impact it has with plastic packaging materials (i.e. styrofoam, packing peanuts, etc.)? link

    Is there anything the City can do to address the increase in online shopping and the impact it has with plastic packaging materials (i.e. styrofoam, packing peanuts, etc.)?

    jzhao asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for your question. We understand your frustration with online shopping and the impact it has with plastic packaging materials. 

    The scope of our proposed ordinance is limited to single-use plastic foodware (i.e. utensils, cups, plates) and the sale of expanded polystyrene foam packing materials, which does not include items shipped from outside of the city.  While it would be great to have control over the shipping practices of vendors nationally and internationally, that would be a much different project. We encourage consumers to write back to the vendors you support and express your frustration with plastic packaging materials and encourage them to switch their practices. 

    Thank you,

Page last updated: 09 Nov 2023, 06:49 PM