The City Council recently adopted two ordinances geared towards reducing litter and promoting environmental sustainability in El Cerrito. The ordinances, known as the Single-Use Bag Ordinance (Ord. 2013-03) and the Food Ware Ordinance (Ord. 2013-04) went into effect on January 1, 2014. The Single-Use Bag Ordinance prohibits the distribution of single-use bags by El Cerrito retail establishments, and establishes a minimum charge for paper bags.

The Food Ware Ordinance prohibits food providers from serving prepared food in expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam food ware. Businesses that will be affected by either ordinance were sent letters and postcards from the City in early December informing them of the January 1, 2014 effective date.
 
Affected businesses are invited to contact the Operations Environmental Services Division  for more information and for additional postcards to display in their business. Businesses are also invited to attend a Breakfast Info Session with staff on March 20, 2014 where they can learn more about how to implement the Ordinances and pick-up additional postcards, posters, and product samples. For more information, and to download informational postcards, please visit www.el-cerrito.org/bagsandfoam.