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Attachment 1 MEMORANDUM TO: Roseville Public Works, Environment, and Transportation Commission FROM: Noelle Bakken, City of Roseville Sustainability Specialist DATE: August 22, 2023 SUBJECT: "Green To Go" Food Packaging Ordinance Proposal Executive Summary: Polystyrene, better known as Styrofoam, is commonly used in food take-out containers. Production, usage, and disposal of this substance presents multiple environmental and public health risks, including contribution to the presence of microplastics in soil and waterways. As of July 2023, the cities of Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Saint Louis Park, and Edina have enacted zero waste ordinances to ban polystyrene and require take-out food packaging to be either commercially compostable or recyclable plastic, and we are exploring a similar ordinance for Roseville. Background: Over 100 restaurants operate in the City of Roseville, and COVID-19 resulted in many more restaurants offering take-out service. Food waste and packaging make up about 45% of all materials in U.S. landfills, and some studies suggest that restaurants account for nearly 80% of disposable packaging waste in the United States. According to Regional Indicators data, an estimated 54%, or 20,652 tons, of Roseville's waste was incinerated or landfilled in 2020. (Note that waste data is collected at the county level and pro -rated by city population.) The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Metropolitan Policy Plan for Solid Waste Management sets forth a goal for Metro counties to reach a 75% recycling rate by 2030. As of 2020, Roseville's recycling rate was 46.2%. Implementing a take-out food packaging ordinance, in combination with Ramsey County's upcoming Food Scraps Pickup program, would help the City of Roseville come closer to meeting that goal. Additionally, commercial businesses could reduce their solid waste fees by separately disposing of compostable materials and food waste. Recommendations: If the City wishes to enact an environmentally acceptable food packaging ordinance, we recommend following the lead of other nearby cities' implementation tactics: Education and Outreach • Listening sessions and/or work groups for local restaurants to ask questions and provide comments. Organics recycling education and outreach for residents. Technical and financial assistance for businesses. o BizRecycling grants and WasteWise assistance. o Hold a packaging fair for restaurant/franchise owners, packaging professionals, BizRecycling, WasteWise, and others to connect and learn. Page 1 Page 15 of 77