Mayor Caldwell announced an additional 90-day "education period" for the Disposable Food Ware Ordinance (“DFWO”).  The DFWO would have required food vendors to only provide fossil fuel-free utensils made of bioplastic, paper, or other renewable materials instead of petroleum plastic utensils, and curtail the use of petroleum plastic takeout bags, effective January 1, 2021.  Although the DFWO will still take effect on January 1, businesses will have the first 90 days (through March 31, 2021) to adjust to the new law because of the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Businesses can access educational resources on implementing the DFWO such as flyers to post in their establishments to educate both employees and the public at: https://opala.org/solid_waste/disposable_food_ware_ordinance.html.