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.
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