Food Service Ware

Green purchasing guidance for food service ware, including:

Bowls
Cups
Plates
Takeout containers
Utensils
Deli bags and wraps
Cup sleeves
Pager bags
Etc.

*Note: Trash bags and can liners are in the cleaning products section.

Required specifications

Purchasers must include these specifications, unless not possible:

RCW 70.95G: Packages Containing Metals and Toxic Chemicals
- Prohibits food packaging containing intentionally added lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium are also prohibited. PFAS is also prohibited in certain packaging beginning in 2023. Accordingly, all food service ware (FSW) products must be free of intentionally added PFAS. No molded fiber products or grease-resistant wraps may be offered unless the vendor, manufacturer, BPI or another third-party certifier confirms that it contains 100 ppm or less total fluorine.
Compostable food service ware products must be either:
- Certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and labeled “compostable”.
- “Composter Approved” (i.e., Appear on the list of Commercially Accepted Items maintained by the Compost Manufacturing Alliance).
On July 25, 2021, the Governor signed SB 5022: Recycling and Waste and Litter Reduction aimed at reducing single-use plastics. This new law will minimize plastic waste by:
- Requiring a minimum amount of post-consumer recycled content in trash bags as well as plastic beverage, household cleaning and personal care products and “setting the country’s highest recycled-content requirements for trash bags”.
- Prohibiting the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene (e.g., Styrofoam) food containers and packing peanuts.
- Becoming the first state to require food service establishments to only give customers single-use food service products and packaging when requested.
Per SB 5022, the effective dates to meet the new requirements are as follows:
- Plastic trash bags. A producer of plastic trash bags must meet the following annual minimum postconsumer recycled content percentage on average for the total quantity of plastic trash bags, by weight, that are sold, offered for sale, or distributed in or into Washington by the producer effective:
  - Jan 1, 2023, through Dec 31, 2024: No less than 10% postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
  - Jan 1, 2025, through Dec 31, 2026: No less than 15% postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.
  - Jan 1, 2027 - forward: No less than 20% postconsumer recycled content plastic by weight.

Expanded polystyrene prohibitions:

Beginning June 1, 2024, the sale and distribution of the following expanded polystyrene products in or into Washington state is prohibited:
- A portable container that is designed or intended to be used for cold storage, except for expanded polystyrene containers used for drugs, medical devices, and biological materials as defined in the federal food, drug, and cosmetic act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 301 et seq.) or shipping perishable commodities from a wholesale or retail establishment; and (ii) Food service products that include food containers, plates, clam shell-style containers, and hot and cold beverage cups.
  - Food service products do not include: Packaging for raw, uncooked, or butchered meat, fish, poultry, or seafood, vegetables, fruit, or egg cartons.
- Beginning June 1, 2023, the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene void filling packaging products, which means loose fill packaging material, also referred to as packing peanuts, in or into Washington state is prohibited.
EO 20-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP)
- “When making purchasing, construction, leasing, and other decisions that affect state government’s emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) or other toxic substances, agencies shall explicitly consider the benefits and costs (including the social costs of carbon) of available options to avoid those emissions. Where cost-effective and workable solutions are available that will reduce or eliminate emissions, decision makers shall select the lower-emissions options.” It further states that “reducing…the use of dangerous toxics in the products state agencies purchase will all have a direct positive effect on human health, particularly for vulnerable children.”

Preferred specifications

Purchasers should include these specifications, unless not possible:

RCW 43.19A: Recycled Product Procurement set a goal of substantially increasing the state’s purchases of recycled-content products, directs the state to set recycled-content standards, and authorizes state agencies to specify, give priority to and/or offer price preferences for products that contain recycled materials.
State employees are encouraged to include food service ware products with post-consumer and total recycled content on their market basket list (as long as they don’t contain PFAS). Examples of commonly available recycled-content food service ware products include, but are not limited to:
- Paper hot cups with at least 10% post-consumer recycled content (PCRC).
- Clear PET plastic cold cups, lids and takeout containers with at last 20% PCRC.
- Paper takeout boxes, bags and hot cup sleeves with at least 30% PCRC or 100% total recycled content
Food service suppliers and operators may not provide plastic straws, which cannot be recycled and do not biodegrade in aquatic ecosystems. Paper straws are acceptable.
State agencies should offer non-cost points to food service providers that utilize reusable, certified compostable, recycled-content, and FSC-certified food service ware.

Things to avoid

Purchasers should avoid these specifications whenever possible:

Beginning June 1, 2023, the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene void filling packaging products, which means loose fill packaging material, also referred to as packing peanuts, in or into Washington state is prohibited.
Food service suppliers and operators may not provide plastic straws, which cannot be recycled and do not biodegrade in aquatic ecosystems. Paper straws are acceptable.
State agencies should offer non-cost points to food service providers that utilize reusable, certified compostable, recycled-content, and FSC-certified food service ware.

Laws, rules, and executive orders

These laws, rules, and executive orders must be included in the contract language:

Find these products on statewide contracts

Find products that meet Washington’s green purchasing specifications:

Contract 16722: Food Services Disposables

End of life

Surplus goods that still can be used

Use surplus disposal to get rid of items you no longer need. Keep materials out of landfills and make funds for your agency.

Recycling and disposal

Hazardous waste disposal guidelines and options:

Department of Ecology: Dispose, recycle, or treat dangerous waste
Washington Recycles