Federal government takes a big step in phasing out single-use food containers

The federal government intends to give the shift away from single-use plastic foodservice containers a major shove by phasing out its purchase of one-and-done cups, clamshells and other petroleum-based packaging.

The White House pledged on Friday to eliminate non-recyclable and non-compostable packaging from all of its foodservice facilities and managed dining establishments on federally owned lands by 2027. That promise would cover outlets ranging from refreshment stands in federal parks to the massive feeding operations of the armed forces.

It set a target date of 2035 for halting the use of single-use plastic across all federal operations. The government had already vowed to discontinue by 2050 its purchase of any supplies that contribute to the environment’s carbon load.

In announcing the new initiatives, the White House said it hoped to set an example for the private-sector companies that rely on disposable foodservice containers destined for landfills. But its massive purchasing power could also alter the economics that have pushed the price of environmentally friendly packaging beyond the reach of many foodservice operators. Providers of compostable or recyclable packaging would benefit from the economies of scale, theoretically bringing down the cost of such items.

In the meantime, the White House repeated its plans to spend $275 million to foster the development of a recycling infrastructure to handle plastic trash, a part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. Foodservice operators often gripe that efforts to recycle or compost waste from their kitchens and dining rooms are thwarted by a dearth of facilities that can handle the refuse.

The administration has earmarked another $70 million for removing plastic debris from U.S. coastal waters and the Great Lakes.

The White House initiative comes as the private sector, and the restaurant industry in particular, is also exploring ways of easing its reliance on single-use restaurant containers. Starbucks, KFC, Dunkin’ and Peet’s Coffee recently announced plans to pilot a reusable cups program in the city of Petaluma, California.

Thirty restaurants there will participate in a first-of-its-kind program whereby consumers will be provided free of charge with reusable cups. Once a cup is used, a patron leaves it at one of 60 reuse bins for sterilization and takes a fresh cup. The container can be used at any of the participating restaurants.

Similar programs are already in use in some markets outside of the U.S.

Starbucks, a leader in the effort to replace single-use cups, has initiated a program whereby domestic consumers can use their own cups to collect a purchased beverage.

New York and a number of other cities have already outlawed single-use polystyrene containers.   

U.S. consumers use about 50 billion one-and-done cups per year, most of them from restaurants, according to the anti-litter group Center for the Circular Economy.

This story originally appeared in sister publication Restaurant Business.