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Memorandum <br />TO:Roseville City Council <br />FROM: Noelle Bakken, City of Roseville Sustainability Specialist <br />DATE: July 10, 2023 <br />SUBJECT:“Green to Go” Food Packaging Proposal <br />Executive Summary: <br />Polystyrene, better known as Styrofoam, is commonly used in food takeout containers. Production, <br />usage, and disposal of this substance presents multiple environmental and public health risks, including <br />contribution to the presence of microplastics in soil and waterways. As of July 2023, the cities of <br />Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Saint Louis Park, and Edina have enacted zero waste ordinances to ban <br />polystyrene and require takeout food packaging to be either commercially compostable or recyclable <br />plastic, and we are exploring a similar ordinance for Roseville. <br />Background: <br />Over 100 restaurants operate in the City of Roseville, and COVID-19 resulted in many more <br />restaurants offering take-out service. Food waste and packaging make up about 45% of all materials in <br />U.S. landfills, and some studies suggest that restaurants account for nearly 80% of disposable <br />packaging waste in the United States. According to Regional Indicators data, an estimated 54% of <br />Roseville’s waste was incinerated or landfilled in 2020, or 20,652 tons. (Note that waste data is <br />collected at the county level and pro-rated by city population.) <br />The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Metropolitan Policy Plan for Solid Waste Management sets <br />forth a goal for Metro counties to reach a 75% recycling rate by 2030. As of 2020, Roseville’s <br />recycling rate was 46.2%. Implementing a take-out food packaging ordinance, in combination with <br />Ramsey County’s upcoming Food Scraps Pickup program, would help the City of Roseville come <br />closer to meeting <br /> that goal. Additionally, commercial businesses could reduce their solid waste fees <br />by separately disposing of compostable materials and food waste. <br />Recommendations: <br />If the City wishes to enact an environmentally acceptable food packaging ordinance, we <br />recommend following the lead of other nearby cities’ implementation tactics: <br />Education and Outreach <br />Listening sessions and/or work group for local restaurants to ask questions and provide <br />comments. <br />Organics recycling education and outreach for residents. <br />Technical and financial assistance for businesses: <br />o BizRecycling grants and WasteWise assistance <br />o Hold a packaging fair for restaurant/franchise owners, packaging professionals, <br />BizRecycling, WasteWise, and others to connect and learn. <br />2660 Civic Center Drive Roseville, Minnesota 55113 <br />651-792-ROSE TDD 651-792-7399 www.cityofroseville.com <br /> <br />