The State - News from Jan. 14, 1987

A Berkeley city commission is considering banning polystyrene food containers in an effort to clean up a litter problem some officials blame largely on fast-food restaurants. If the City Council approves the proposal, now being studied by the Solid Waste Management Commission, it would mark the nation’s first ban of the all-plastic, fast food-type containers, according to a plastics industry spokesman. The ban would apply to hamburger “clamshells,” hot beverage cups, sandwich plates, soup bowls and similar items. Commissioner Beverly Kelly said the growing amount of litter has made parts of central Berkeley “Trash City.” But some merchants are unhappy about the proposed ban, saying customers want speedy service and that dish-washing would slow them down.