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Using Translation

The County of San Mateo has added a translation feature developed by Google Translate to assist web visitors in understanding information on this website in a variety of foreign languages. Please be aware that Google Translate, a free third party service which the County does not control, provides automated computer translations that may not give you an exact translation. The County cannot guarantee the accuracy of translations through Google Translate so translations should not be considered exact and only used as a rough guide. Anyone relying on information obtained from Google Translate does so at his or her own risk. The County disclaims and will not accept any liability for damages or losses of any kind caused by the use of the Google Translate feature.

food served in compostable takeout bowls and bamboo fork and knife
FOOD SERVICE WARE ORDINANCE
Cutting down on landfill waste.

Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance

The County of San Mateo’s Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance regulates the use of disposable food service ware to reduce single-use plastic and other foodware waste. This law applies to food service businesses in unincorporated areas of the County and in the 16 cities within the County that have adopted the model ordinance. The County’s Foodware Aware Team is here to help businesses transition away from plastics and reduce foodware waste effectively.

Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance

General FAQ

Common questions and corresponding answers are listed below. If you have a question that is not addressed below, please contact us.

Food Facility FAQ

Contact Us

Our Foodware Aware Program Team — the County’s Sustainability Department and Environmental Innovations, Inc. — are here to help you and other impacted food facilities successfully make the operational transition to meet the new requirements of the County’s Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance.

Please email foodware@smcgov.org or call 888-442-2666 to get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.

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