By Megan Managan

The Issaquah City Council sustainability committee will consider the city’s proposed ordinance to prohibit polystyrene food packaging throughout the summer.

Council member Maureen McCarry said the issue is currently being discussed by the committee, while working with local grocer and restaurant associations. She said discussions are expected to take place over the next few months in the hopes the ordinance can be put before the city council in September or October.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit the use of food storage containers, such as styrofoam cups, from food service businesses and city operations as part of Issaquah’s waste prevention and recycling programs. Recyclable or compostable food service containers and service ware would be required alternatives.

The ordinance, if approved, would go into effect Jan. 1, 2010. Polystyrene food packages are petroleum based, which cannot be recycled in Washington, and therefore ends up in landfills, according to the city.

The city has an aggressive recycling program with the goal of diverting up to 65 percent of waste away from landfills. Once the ordinance is reviewed by the sustainability committee it will go back to the council where staff has encouraged authorization.

The City of Seattle approved a similar ordinance earlier this year.