By Jinesse Reynolds 

The unanimous adoption of Marin County’s Reusable Foodware Ordinance this May was made possible by an inspiring community of local activists. It all started in 2018 when I had just been elected to the San Anselmo Sustainability Commission and jumped right in without knowing anything about policy or local government. I had a strong drive to do something about single-use plastic pollution.

Word got out in the community that I was working on a single-use ordinance and out of the blue, Susan Hopp gave me a call to invite me to a brand new Sierra Club committee, Plastic Free Marin, started by Barbara Bogard and Chance Cutrano. Renée Godard, the Sierra Club-endorsed Fairfax Council Member, was also part of this new group. I can say with certainty that the ordinance would not have happened — or at least not at such a rapid pace — had I not met this group of exceptional environmental leaders.

I drafted the text that was the basis of the eventual County Ordinance in early spring 2018. We first brought it to San Anselmo, which adopted the ordinance in November 2018 (and amended it in June 2019), followed by Fairfax. Our success at the municipal level showed us that the support was there for a county-wide ordinance.

When I logged on to the first reading of the Ordinance, I was not feeling overly optimistic. I was having a hard time guessing how many folks would show up. I did not know how many people had submitted comment letters. Then all of the supporters started speaking. Two 7th graders totally "wowed" me with their emotional plea to save the planet. There were so many great statements, and it turned out that the Supervisors had received hundreds of letters. The Supervisors unanimously voted in favor.

By November 2023, all food establishments in unincorporated Marin County will need to serve customers on reusable dishes, with reusable cups and utensils. Disposable take-out cups will have a $.25 cent charge attached to them to incentivize the public to “Bring Your Own” or use a reusable alternative offered by the business. Take-out accessories must be by request only, and all disposable foodware must be compatible with Marin’s existing compost facilities, which are certified for organic fertilizer and only accept unlined paper and wood-based materials that are PFAS-free.

Marin’s Reusable Foodware Ordinance is a big deal. It not only reduces waste, it reduces carbon emissions and toxic chemicals in our environment. The ordinance has inspired San Francisco to continue the work to improve its own Reusable Ordinance, and it has been shared by Sierra Club Zero Waste throughout the country.

The 2022 report by the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change sounds yet another alarm bell, code red, urging us to wake up to the fact that the severe consequences we are already experiencing are getting worse at a more rapid pace. We all must do our part to "be the change" that is necessary to reduce our carbon output and put the brakes on the climate crisis. One of the best things we can all do now is "Bring Your Own" reusable containers for take-out food, drinks, or produce and bulk items at the store or farmer’s market. 

To get involved with Plastic Free Marin, contact jrey94925@gmail.com.

The article as it appears in the Yodeler:

Jinesse Reynolds is Co-Chair of Plastic Free Marin, a sub-group of Sierra Club Marin Group.