The County of San Mateo and select cities within the County have adopted a Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance (Ordinance).

The Ordinance requires:

• Most disposable food service ware to be non-plastic and natural-fiber based compostable (a.k.a. made from paper, sugarcane, wood, bamboo, wheat stalk, hay, etc.);
• Larger disposable food service ware to have little/no harmful fluorinated chemicals; and
• Regulated distribution of disposable food service ware accessories (e.g., smaller side items like straws, utensils, stirrers, napkins, condiment packets, etc.).
• Additional information about the requirements of the Ordinance is available in the Summary Sheet.

For a list of jurisdictions in San Mateo County that have adopted the County’s model Ordinance and the corresponding Ordinance enforcement start dates, please visit: smcsustainability.org/food-ware.

For available resources to help your food facility to meet the ordinance requirements, please visit: smcsustainability.org/food-ware/facilities.