The Berkeley [California] City Council has adopted the
following resolution establishing a comprehensive and
unified plastics policy, including the following statement
in the accompanying staff report:
"Support legislation
mandating the use of recycled plastic feedstock or
enforcing manufacturer responsibility. . The City has
already taken a position in support of SB 1110, which
requires recycled content or a minimum level of reuse or
recycling as a condition of selling a rigid plastic container
in California. Staff will inform Council of pending
legislation and campaigns for manufacturer responsibility
that could benefit from municipal support. The Ecology
Center staff person will also help gather support for such
campaigns."
Berkeley City Council
Resolution 60,643-N.S.
ADOPTING A COMPREHENSIVE AND UNIFIED
PLASTICS POLICY
WHEREAS, the Council of the City of Berkeley
requested that City staff and the contractors develop a
comprehensive and unified plastic policy; and
WHEREAS, plastics are a growing and problematic part
of the waste stream; and
WHEREAS, the City of Berkeley is committed to
responsibly handling all waste materials including
reducing, reusing and recycling before landfilling; and
WHEREAS, the Solid Waste Management Commission
unanimously approved the proposed policy.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the
Council of the City of Berkeley that the City of Berkeley
adopts the following policy concerning plastic in the
waste stream:
1. The City of Berkeley believes first and foremost that
the manufacturers and producers of plastic products and
packaging must take some form of stewardship over their
material. This includes designing products for reuse or
recyclability, using recycled material in their products,
and supporting the recycling infrastructure
2. The City of Berkeley shall make every effort to reduce
the amount of plastic packaging that is ultimately
landfilled. Therefore, plastics with viable markets may
be added to the collection programs in Berkeley, and
citizens will be encouraged to avoid purchasing plastic
packaging.
3. The City of Berkeley recognizes that not all material
collected at the curb for recycling is incorporated into the
same product from which it came. However the City will
encourage a "bottle to bottle" policy, or reuse, first and
foremost, for plastic beverage containers collected
through City sanctioned programs, whenever possible, as
a means of addressing the exponential growth of plastic.
The City of Berkeley recognizes that plastic recycling is
still in a nascent stage and is willing to take steps to
prepare the material for the highest possible use (e.g.,
bottle to bottle), as we did for glass and paper in the past.
4. The City of Berkeley recognizes that reusable
packaging is extremely effective in reducing solid waste
and will encourage any local efforts for refillable plastic
containers for beverages, solid foods, and other grocery
products. The City of Berkeley encourages the trend for
reusable commercial transport packaging such as
collapsible plastic pallets, reusable bakery buckets and
replacements for plastic film.
5. The City of Berkeley will promote and encourage
source reduction and recycling of plastics and purchase of
products containing recycled materials, by all City
Departments and contractors.
6. The City of Berkeley recognizes that as a material,
certain plastics are very problematic. The City will
investigate the negative environmental impacts of
polyvinyl chloride in the construction sector and from
consumer packaging and recommend appropriate
actions. The City will continue to enforce its Styrofoam
ban ordinance.
[For more information contact Tanya Levy at
510-644-8891 x 238.]
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