ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago is a home rule unit of government pursuant to the 1970 Illinois Constitution, Article VII, Section 6 (a); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City of Chicago may exercise any power and perform any function relating to its government and affairs including promoting the quality of life, health, safety, and the welfare of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the production, use, and disposal of expanded polystyrene food service products and disposable food service ware have significant adverse impacts on the environment and that compostable or recyclable alternative products are available; and
WHEREAS, costs associated with the use and disposal of expanded polystyrene food service products and disposable food service ware in the City of Chicago create burdens on the City's solid waste disposal system; and
WHEREAS, to discourage and decrease the use of certain expanded polystyrene service products and disposable food service ware in the City, it is necessary to regulate such use; and
WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the health, safety, and welfare of the people that regulations prohibit the use of certain expanded polystyrene food service products and disposable food service ware to protect the environment, and to reduce the cost of solid waste disposal by the City; and
WHEREAS, toxic chemicals leach out of such products into the food that they contain and threaten human health arid reproductive systems; and
WHEREAS, there are existing biodegradable alternatives to polystyrene; now, therefore:
BE IT ORDAINED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, as follows:
Section 1. Title 7 of the Municipal Code of Chicago is hereby amended by adding a new chapter 7-31, as follows:
7-31-10. Definitions:
For the purposes of this chapter:
' ¦. ;jfIi ¦.' Sf, ¦:.
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection ofthe City.
"Polystyrene f...
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