Jack Macy: Recyclable to-go Containers

Starting June 1, the food you get from your favorite take-out spot or neighborhood restaurant may be a little bit better for you and the planet. Or, actually, the container will.

From that day forward, a law will go into affect that requires all restaurants and vendors selling prepared food to-go to serve it in compostable or recyclable containers - namely, paper or plant-based compostable plastic or aluminum foil.

Sponsored by Supervisors Aaron Peskin, the new law was passed to reduce the negative environmental impacts of disposable food serviceware, especially polystyrene foam, also known as Styrofoam. Styrofoam is made from crude oil, is non-renewable and non-compostable, and currently remains an unfeasible commodity to recycle. Styrofoam also breaks up into small pieces and can be ingested by marine or bird life, killing them through starvation.

Even the production of Styrofoam is toxic to our environment. Studies have shown that chemicals in polystyrene foam are carcinogenic and can leach into the food being transported in the containers.

And then there's the litter factor. You've probably noticed that a lot of the litter in San Francisco is made up of non-compostable, non-recyclable fast-food service ware, including Styrofoam, plastic cups and clamshell containers. Many restaurants have already switched to compostable to-go containers. That white or brown paper box you get can go in your green compostables cart when you're done with it, along with other food scraps, bones and soiled napkins.

Compostable food service ware includes coated (but not foam coated) and uncoated paper containers, cardboard or other natural fiber products, like sugarcane, and "bio-based" plastic-like materials, such as potato or corn-based resin. All of these items should go into your green cart. You'll want to put any aluminum foil or #2, #4 or #5 plastic tubs and lids in your blue recycling cart.

By composting and recycling more Ð and thus throwing away less Ð you may be able to save money on your trash bill by getting a smaller black garbage cart.

Call your waste hauler to learn more: Sunset Scavenger - (415) 330-1300; Golden Gate Recycling and Disposal - (415) 626-4000.

The new food service law will greatly help the City reach its goal of zero waste by 2020. San Francisco is currently diverting 67 percent of its waste out of landfills. However, nearly 40 percent of what's currently being thrown away is actually compostable: food, food-soiled paper products and yard trimmings. The City and waste haulers are partnering to make compostables collection simpler. You can call your waste hauler and request that a free green kitchen pail be delivered to your home.

For apartment buildings to be included in the green cart compostables collection program, a tenant or on-site manager needs to help coordinate participation. To make collecting food scraps even easier, you can purchase Biobags, a certified compostable plastic bag made from corn.

For information about composting and recycling services, and a list of local stores that sell compostable bags, visit the Web site at SFEnvironment.org.

Jack Macy is the commercial recycling coordinator for SF Environment, San Francisco's environment department. Learn more about how SF Environment is protecting and preserving San Francisco's environmental well-being at SFEnvironment.org, visit the EcoCenter at 11 Grove St., or call (415) 355-3700.