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FOAM FOOD CONTAINERS As noted in the May 26, 2010 report, the term "foam food containers" refers to (expandable) polystyrene foam' most commonly used for disposable food service, such as: (a) coffee cups; (b) soup bowls; (c) salad boxes; (d) foam egg cartons; (e) produce and meat trays; and (f) other similar items. LITTER. One of the primary concerns regarding foam food containers is their presence as litter in the environment. City staff advise that foam food containers represent about 5% of litter in the City, with the highest concentrations by the Bernal Bridge at Foothill Road. On a County -wide basis there are no litter surveys, and foam food containers represent a negligible percentage by weight of total landfill materials.' At the State level, CalTrans has estimated that all forms of polystyrene represent 15% of the total litter volume recovered from storm drains." While there is no information available specifically about foam food containers, there is information about polystyrene litter (generally as part of California's Coastal Clean -Up Day, where it is the fourth most common item collected. LIFE -CYCLE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS. When foam food containers become litter in the environment, another concern is how long it remains. The life cycle of foam food containers is estimated as "several decades to hundreds of years to deteriorate in the environment or landfill [and] not only does food service PS [polystyrene] break into smaller pieces that may be ingested by wildlife, but materials may also be contaminated with food that decays, creating a health hazard.i While litter is near the end of life cycle analysis, at the opposite end of the spectrum is the environmental effect of manufacturing. When compared with bleached paper containers, foam polystyrene cups require Note: The footnotes in this report cite references which are listed in more complete form at the end of this report. Persons who desire to read these references in their entirety are asked to contact Larissa Seto at Iseto @ci.pleasanton.ca.us or 925.931.5023. Use and Disposal of Polystyrene in California, pg. 3, describing polystyrene as being available in two main types: (1) "general purpose" known as 'crystal' and 'high- impact' [such as the rigid clear packaging containers for retail display of small electronics]; and (2) "expanded or expandable" where a blowing agent has been added. "Foamed" expanded polystyrene includes hot cups, plates, meat poultry trays and foamed clamshells. Non -foam polystyrene includes cutlery, some yogurt cups, cup lids, etc. (Personal comments of Tom Padia, Source Reduction and Recycling Director, Stop Waste.Org) 'City staff further advise that clear plastic water bottles are the most common type of litter; plastic bags are often found in the arroyos because they are blown by the wind into the arroyos' low points where the bags often shred on the vegetation. Pers. Comments of Tom Padia; and 2008 Alameda County Waste Characterization Study. Use and Disposal of Polystyrene in California, pg. 3. s Foam food containers are categorized with other plastic containers, so specific quantification on a State- wide level is not available. For example, in the Characterization and Quantification of Residua /s from Materials Recovery Facilities, "Other #3 #7 Containers" is a broad category of plastic recyclables, for which foam food containers would be a #6. (Also, Pers. Comments of Tom Padia.) As for Coastal Clean Up Day, see Use and Disposal of Polystyrene in California, pg. 20, and Facts about Styrofoam® Litter. 6 Use and Disposal of Polystyrene in California, pg. 4; see also Policy Tools for Reducing Impact of Single -Use, Carryout Plastic Bags and EPS Food Packaging, pgs. 7 -9, regarding ingestion by animals and marine litter. Page 2 of 6