§ 4.106.020. Definitions.

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have the following meanings:

(a)

"Biodegradable" refers to the ability of a material to decompose into elements normally found in nature within a reasonably short period of time after disposal.

(b)

"County property" refers to property owned or leased by the County of San Mateo.

(c)

"Disposable food service ware" means single-use disposable products used in the restaurant and food service industry for serving or transporting prepared, ready-to-consume food or beverages. This includes but is not limited to plates, cups, bowls, trays and hinged or lidded containers. This does not include single-use disposable items such as straws, cup lids, or utensils, nor does it include single-use disposable packaging for unprepared foods.

(d)

"Food service provider" means any vendor, business, organization, entity, group or individual, including a licensed retail food establishment, that provides prepared food on property owned or leased by the County either (1) pursuant to a contract with the County, or (2) pursuant to a contract with another entity who manages or operates a facility on County owned or leased property under a contract with the County.

(e)

"Expanded polystyrene (EPS)" means polystyrene that has been expanded or "blown" using a gaseous blowing agent into a solid foam.

(f)

"Non-recyclable plastic" refers to any plastic which cannot be feasibly recycled by a municipal recycling program in the State of California, including polystyrene and expanded polystyrene. Non-recyclable plastic refers to those plastics with the recycling symbol #6.

(g)

"Prepared food" means food or beverages, which are serviced, packaged, cooked, chopped, sliced, mixed, brewed, frozen, squeezed or otherwise prepared. Prepared food does not include raw, butchered meats, fish and/or poultry sold from a butcher or similar retail establishment.

(h)

"Polystyrene" means and includes expanded polystyrene, and is a thermoplastic petrochemical material utilizing a styrene monomer and processed by any number of techniques including, but not limited to, fusion of polymer spheres (expandable bead polystyrene), injection molding, form molding, and extrusion-blow molding (extruded foam polystyrene). The term "polystyrene" also includes clear or solid polystyrene which is known as "oriented polystyrene." Polystyrene does not mean or include polystyrene coolers and ice chests that are intended for reuse.

(i)

"Recyclable plastic" means any plastic which can be feasibly recycled by a municipal recycling program in the State of California. Recyclable plastics comprise those plastics with the recycling symbols #1 through #5 including polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and polypropylene (PP).

(j)

"Bottled water" means any product, including natural spring or well water taken from municipal or private utility systems or other water, distilled water, deionized water, which are put into sealed bottles, packages or other containers.

(Ord. 4421, 05/06/08; Ord. 04469, § 2, 5/19/09, eff. 7/1/09)