Styrofoam Containers to Go

From the City Council Action Summary, July 27:

Council Bill 116250 PASSED AS AMENDED 7 – 0

This bill bans the use of expanded polystyrene—Styrofoam—food containers in restaurants and grocery stores by January 1, 2009. Also under this law, in July of 2010, grocery-store foam trays for raw meat and seafood will be banned and replaced with compostable alternatives.

Council Bill 116251 PASSED AS AMENDED 6 – 1 (Drago Opposed)

This bill encourages Seattle residents to use reusable shopping bags by establishing a 20 cent green fee for disposable shopping bags at convenience, drug, and grocery stores, beginning on January 1, 2009.

Both bills come as part of the Zero Waste Strategy pushed by Councilmember Conlin and approved last July.