Napa County is moving forward with a requirement that food vendors use reusable or compostable food items and accessories.

The Napa County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to declare its intent to adopt the ordinance, with adoption set to take place at a later date. The ordinance would take effect one year after passage, which would allow time for educational efforts.

A similar law in Calistoga went into effect in March — after a similar delay of one year to allow for education. The Napa County Climate Action Committee that month approved a draft ordinance based on the Calistoga Act that will be sent to the county and all of its cities for review.

The ordinance before the county council on Tuesday makes several changes to the county code, including:

• A ban on polystyrene food products and accessories, with some exceptions.

• Customers will be allowed to use their own bags, unless damaged or unsuitable, and glasses.

• Require businesses to keep records of recyclable and compostable food products for three years. And that those records be made available upon request to enforcement personnel.

• It requires three waste containers – for solid, recyclable and organic waste – to be used by both customers and staff where prepared food is sold.

• Charge 25 cents for each disposable cup or container, not to exceed $1 per order.

• Prohibit the sale or distribution of plastic bottled beverages of less than 21 ounces on county property.

The county should also create a waiver for on-site dining establishments that cannot reasonably provide reusable food items. Provisions of the ordinance would be waived during a declared emergency, according to the staff report, and for special event permit applications deemed complete before the ordinance took effect.

The ordinance also strengthens the county’s existing single-use plastic bag reduction ordinance, including by:

• Requiring bags before checkout to be recyclable or compostable, except for specified exempt activities.

• Clarifying that enforcement staff may inspect a business or facility to ensure compliance with the ordinance.

• Clarifying several other issues, such as when a customer may or may not use their own bags when purchasing items and when a customer may be charged for a reusable or recyclable bag.

Supervisor Belia Ramos said the changes were a step in the right direction and thanked the advocacy group Napa Climate Now! for bringing the ordinance concept to officials. When driving, she said, it’s easy to see plastic waste on the side of the road, demonstrating the need for such a law.

“Putting aside the fact that we have litter bugs, it also allows us to really address how we’re going to have a more sustainable pathway,” Ramos said.

Marilyn Knight-Mendelson, co-chair of Napa Climate Napa Now!, commended the council for advancing the reusable food ordinance and noted that it will help reduce the county’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Susan Crosby, also of Napa Climate Now!, said she visited many restaurants to encourage voluntary participation in reducing plastic consumption. While most were interested, she said, few were ready to commit.

Another member, Bob Figoni, suggested that educating businesses about how reusable options can save money could alleviate concerns — a strategy that has worked in other communities with similar laws.

“After reviewing the proposed ordinance in its entirety, I can say that we are very pleased with the content, that it has all the necessary components for a strong and effective food ordinance,” Figoni said.

You can reach writer Edward Booth at 707-521-5281 or [email protected].