We help municipalities reduce
single-use plastics from food
service businesses
The prevalence of single-use plastic foodware has a detrimental impact on the environment and human health, and a significant cost to municipalities to manage unnecessary waste. In California, municipalities are mandated to divert an increasing percentage of their waste from the landfill, or avoid it altogether. The lack of clarity into foodware compostability has impacted the ability of many municipalities to meet organics recycling mandates. In response, many cities and counties are developing foodware ordinances or conducting outreach and incentive programs.
EI offers comprehensive outreach, marketing, technical assistance, and incentive program distribution and oversight. Our innovative foodware campaigns and assistance programs have received national attention and are being replicated by many other municipalities. We can support your efforts to help food services businesses transition away from single-use plastic foodware while saving money.
Pre-Ordinance Survey Work
EI can survey your community on barriers and needs while introducing the ideas of reuse and compliant compostable to-go ware, building community support and presenting findings to decision makers to inform ordinance development.
Ordinance Development
EI has learned many lessons from working on ordinance implementation and can provide expert advice on ordinance development and language.
Pilot Project Implementation
Either as part of ordinance implementation or even without an ordinance in place, EI can implement financial and technical assistance programs to support food service businesses in transitioning to compostable and/or reusable foodware.
Food Facility Education and Outreach
EI will run a comprehensive outreach program to educate food service businesses, develop useful resources and collateral materials, and provide detailed technical assistance and incentives in making the transition to reusable or compliant disposable products.
Areas of Expertise
Campaign Design
Marketing Coordination
Custom Educational Materials
Door-to-door Outreach
Technical Assistance
Vendor Relations
Partnership Development
Event Management
Financial Assistance
Pilot Project Implementation
Chinese, Spanish, and Vietnamese Outreach
Our business outreach supports municipal priorities
Climate Action and Adaptation Plan
Waste Diversion Mandates
SB 1383 Organics Recycling and Edible Food Recovery
Foodware Ordinance Compliance
Green Business Certification Assistance
“Environmental Innovations staff created and implemented an engaging and resource-driven outreach program for the County of San Mateo to support food businesses affected by the County’s Disposable Foodware Ordinance. EI‘s staff have extensive experience working with food businesses, they provide services that demonstrate a keen understanding of the needs and perspective of the food business community, and they are flexible in their approach.”
Christopher Slafter
Senior Sustainability Specialist, Office of Sustainability, County of San Mateo
Our Foodware Clients
San Mateo
Cupertino
Seaside
Sunnyvale
Watsonville