First, reusable grocery bags were lost to the coronavirus. Silverware and ceramic plates may be the next to go
“California is a good model,” said Rachael Coccia, plastic pollution manager for the Surfrider Foundation. “It's really going to be something [where] states have the power to make those types of decisions.
” Her organization is trying to get ahead of the issue, because how restaurants act now is likely to be the norm for a while. Surfrider is reaching out to the 630 restaurants that are part of its network of "ocean friendly restaurants," which pledge to exclusively use reusable foodware for on-site dining and provide utensils for takeout orders only upon request. It's also circulating its own guidelines pointing out that theSo far, other states that have reopened restaurants and issued detailed guidelines are instituting rules similar to California’s. Texas is banning restaurants from pre-setting tables with napkins, utensils and glasses and requiring disposable menus and condiment containers, while Oregon is similarly prohibiting pre-setting tables and recommending single-use menus and condiments. Stanford University epidemiologist Steven Goodman said reusable tableware should be as safe as disposable as long as restaurant staff take proper precautions. "It doesn't sound like there should be a big difference if they're handled carefully," he said. "Washing the plates well should get rid of [the virus], and so the only difference could be how they're handled between the time when they are on the table and in the sink or in the washing machine." He noted that there could be a potential difference between hand-washing plates and using a dishwasher if virus particles somehow became aerosolized. “I don’t know the data, if there is any, about the danger to a gloved and masked dishwasher of hand-washing plates that might have coronavirus.” Troy Paski, founder of Hoppy's Railyard Kitchen and Hopgarden, is planning to open for dine-in service Friday with his normal tableware, but he said he will offer compostable, single-use options on request. The restaurant is spacing its tables to reduce capacity from 300 to 150. "We already preroll our silverware," said Paski. "We're going to continue using reusable napkins and silverware, regular plates." California food service unions say they don't have a position on reusable versus single-use items. UNITE HERE Local 2, which represents 14,000 such employees in San Francisco and San Mateo counties,that say "extremely high-touch items" like menus and salt and pepper shakers should be replaced with disposable versions, but don't make reference to dishes and utensils. The California Restaurant Association is directing its members to the state's guidance but notes that local jurisdictions may decide to go further. "Many of the current local public health orders do put an emphasis on single-use products, and cities have been moving to suspend the ban on plastic bags," said Sharokina Shams, CRA's vice president of public affairs, in an email. "It’s also interesting to note that the number of delivery and takeout orders went up during stay-at-home/shelter-in-place orders. If that becomes a long-term pattern, you may see the demand for single-use products rise." Environmental advocates are trying to encourage restaurants to stick with reusables — and hoping Newsom won't come out with another executive action reversing his administration's guidance, as he did by waiving the state's plastic bag ban after"To some extent, we were maybe a little nervous that would happen just because we were so blindsided with the plastic bag ordinance," said Nick Lapis, director of advocacy for the group Californians Against Waste, adding: "but no, I'm not expecting anything."
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Beaches, Restaurants, Bars and More Venues Packed with Visitors as States Begin Reopening'I have never seen this many umbrellas. This is not social-distancing at all,' one beachgoer described a Florida beach
Read more »
Denise Richards says she did 'whatever' she could to 'hide' Charlie Sheen's behavior from daughtersDenise Richards has revealed how she discussed her ex-husband Charlie Sheen's past unruly behavior with their daughters.
Read more »
Brightening Stick Concealers That’ll Hide Under-Eye Circles and ImperfectionsBrightening stick concealers that’ll hide under-eye circles and imperfections.
Read more »
2 Chainz Restaurant Shut Down by Cops for Violating COVID-19 Guidelines2 Chainz's restaurant in Atlanta got shut down because it violated COVID-19 reopening guidelines.
Read more »