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November 18, 2019, Public Hearing – Item 1 <br />EUGENE CITY COUNCIL <br />AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY <br /> <br /> Public Hearing: An Ordinance Concerning Restrictions on the Use of Polystyrene Containers and Adding Sections 6.874, 6.876, and 6.878 to the Eugene Code, 1971. <br /> Meeting Date: November 18, 2019 Agenda Item Number: 1 Department: Planning and Development Staff Contact: Anna Reid <br />www.eugene‐or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5463 <br />ISSUE STATEMENT Polystyrene carryout items are a common form of single-use plastic and a source of litter. They are manufactured from non-renewable fossil fuels and synthetic chemicals and are very difficult to recycle. These containers are not biodegradable; once they are in landfills or the natural environment, they persist for hundreds of years. They may break into small pieces, which creates hazards for wildlife and challenges for clean-up efforts. This ordinance is in response to City Council’s directive to draft an ordinance banning polystyrene carryout containers. This public hearing provides an opportunity to provide feedback to City Council on the proposed ordinance. <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND Polystyrene carryout items have been banned in various regions all over the globe as well as in Oregon cities such as Ashland, Florence, Medford, Milwaukie, Portland, and Silverton due to their negative impacts on the environment. During the 2019 Oregon legislative regular session, House Bill 2883, which would have enacted a statewide polystyrene container ban, failed in the Senate. The local polystyrene ordinance proposed is modeled primarily after the introduced version of HB 2883; however, there are three main differences in the proposed ordinance: 1. The term and definition of the businesses affected is “retail food and beverage establishment,” which is the same one as is used in the local single-use items ordinance. This is aimed to create consistency and clarity for Eugene businesses and members of the public. 2. City departments and retail food and beverage establishments performing work under a City contract are prohibited from using polystyrene containers for prepared food. Proposed language also prohibits the use of polystyrene containers at City facilities, City-sponsored events, and City-permitted events. These regulations are similar to those in the City’s 2012 plastic bag ordinance and demonstrates the City’s commitment to modeling the desired behavior. By prohibiting the distribution of polystyrene containers at City-sponsored and permitted events, the language incorporates one of the basic elements within the sustainable events framework. For example, the use of polystyrene containers would be prohibited at a 5K race that is sponsored by the City, and a City-permitted block party would prohibit the distribution of prepared food and beverages in polystyrene containers.