Ulster County’s Food Service Waste It is your responsibility to know the BUILDING A HEALTHIER Reduction Act was enacted for the entirety of the law: following reasons: The information provided in this pamphlet ULSTER COUNTY is only a summary of Ulster County’s Food Service Waste Reduction Act, Local Law  Polystyrene foam (commonly referred to Number 12 of 2014: A Local Law regula- as Styrofoam, a Dow Chemical Compa- tion the Use of Polystyrene Foam Disposa- ny trademarked form of polystyrene ble Food Service Ware By Food Service A Summary of Ulster County’s foam insulation) is a common environ- Establishments in Ulster County. Please mental pollutant and non-biodegradable refer to the law in its entirety. Food Service Waste substance commonly used as food ser- Note: vice ware. A Chain Food Service Establishment or Reduction Act Food Service Establishment may seek an  Polystyrene foam is non-renewable, exemption from the prohibition due to a Local Law Number 12 of 2014 non-recyclable, and non-compostable. “unique packaging hardship” under Sub-  Environmental Protection Agency has section A due to a “financial hardship” un-

found that the polystyrene manufactur- der Subsection B of Section 5 of Local Law Number 12 of 2014, County of Ulster. ing process is the fifth largest creator of hazardous waste in the United States.

 Evidence suggests that a component of polystyrene foam, styrene, is a carcino- gen and neurotoxin. According to EPA studies, styrene is now detectable in the fat tissue of every man, woman and child in the United States. Regulating the Use of Polystyrene Foam Disposable Food Service Ware By Food  Alternative cost-effective biodegradable, Service Establishments in Ulster County compostable and/or reusable food ser- vice ware is readily available. Such alter- natives are less toxic and more environ- UC Department of Health Dr. Carol Smith, Commissioner mentally friendly than polystyrene foam. (845) 340–3150  Use of biodegradable, compostable UC Department of the Environment food, and/or re-useable service ware will Amanda LaValle, Coordinator reduce the waste stream and reduce (845) 338-7287 waste costs. ulstercountyny.gov

COUNTY EXECUTIVE Printed on Recycled Paper MICHAEL P. HEIN What does this law do? Examples of acceptable products: Definitions:

The Food Service Waste Reduction Act  Plastics made from non expanded Chain Food Service Establishment bans all food service establishments from polystyrene (preferable recyclable and using expanded polystyrene foam compostable) Any food service establishment or food (commonly referred to as Styrofoam) when service establishments operating in Ulster  Paper products (preferably recyclable preparing, selling or providing food and bev- County that is or are part of a group of fif- and compostable) erages in Ulster County. teen or more food service establishment.  Cardboard (preferable recyclable and

compostable) Food Service Establishment Who does this law apply to?  Metal (preferable recyclable) and A. Chain Food Service Establishments aluminum/tin foil Any establishment, located or providing st food within the County of Ulster, which Effective: November 1 , 2015  Glass (preferably recyclable) sells or otherwise provides prepared food B. Food Service Establishments and/or beverages for public consumption st on or off its premises and includes, but is Effective: May 1 , 2016 not limited to, any store, shop, sales out- C. County Permitted Events & County let, restaurant, bar, pub, coffee shop, Sponsored Events cafeteria, caterer, convenience store, liquor store, grocery store, super mar- *County permitted events & County spon- ket, delicatessen, catering truck, mobile sored events shall also no longer use non- food truck, cart or vehicle, or any other recyclable plastic. person who provides prepared food; Effective: November 1st, 2015 and any organization, group or individual which regularly provides food as a part of

its services. Examples of unacceptable products:  Expanded polystyrene Prepared Food Any food or beverage which is (1) served in Ulster County or (2) which is packaged, cooked, chopped, sliced, mixed, brewed, ACCEPTABLE frozen, squeezed, or otherwise prepared on the premises. Prepared food does not include raw meats, poultry and/or seafood sold for the purpose of cooking off premis- Products made from non expanded poly- es. styrene may be used. Products that are recycled, recyclable and compostable are preferable. For a list of products that are * See a complete list of definitions under Sec- certified compostable, visit the Biodegrada- tion 3 of Local Law Number 12, County of Ul- ble Products Institute website: ster. NOT ACCEPTABLE http://products.bpiworld.org/