Oxford City Council is to vote on proposals that will require street food traders to use only biodegradable or recyclable packaging and utensils.
The Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA), said it had encouraged the local authority not to single out expanded polystyrene products (EPS) packaging in the by-law or impose a ban on it.
FPA executive director Martin Kersh said: “We need to encourage waste collectors, including Oxford Direct Services, to introduce EPS collections with a view to recycling and to work with food vendors to ensure that they make the correct arrangements for the packaging they are using.
“It’s important vendors know that EPS is not banned by Oxford City Council, but they do face responsibility in ensuring their waste is properly disposed of as they do with every type of packaging they handle.”
The FPA is talking to the National Caterers Association, which represents mobile and outside caterers, to provide advice on collection and labelling and signage.
A spokesman for Oxford City Council said: “The council’s general purposes licensing committee approved a proposed condition for food traders which requires all packaging and utensils for use by customers to be made of biodegradable or recyclable materials.
“The condition is intended to reduce the amount of commercial waste that goes to landfill.”
A vote will take place at a full council meeting on 13 April.
You might also like...
Inquiry launched into plastic food and drink packaging
MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee have launched an inquiry into plastic packaging for food and drink.
Materials lost from recycling stream could cost UK £1bn by 2035
Failure to properly implement EU waste and recycling regulations could cost the UK €1.18bn (£1.02bn) in the value of recyclable materials lost by 2035, a report has warned.
Commingling exemption rule retains 'economic' element
Defra has denied reports that the word ‘economically’ will be removed from Teep regulations that allow local authorities to introduce commingled household recycling collections.
Axion supports controversial plastics exports proposal
Axion Polymers has declared support for a controversial proposal on export shipments that would effectively reclassify many types of plastics waste as hazardous waste.
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment
Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.