Zero Waste

Thank you Climate Smart Bainbridge Businesses!

Thank you to the following food and lodging establishments for taking the lead on efforts to reduce single-use plastic waste! These businesses pledged to "Erase the Waste" before new waste reduction regulations went into effect in 2023. Businesses received recognition as a Climate Smart Bainbridge business leader in the Bainbridge Island Review, on social media, and in City communications in 2022. 

Food Retail & Lodging Businesses that Pledged to Erase the Waste

• The Island School
• Town & Country Market
• Bainbridge Vineyards
• The Madison Diner 
• The Quality Inn and Suites
• Cups Espresso and Café
• SuBI Japanese Restaurant
• Nirvana Indian and Nepali Cuisine 

Other Community Businesses that Pledged to Erase the Waste

• OfficeXpats
• Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce

Look for this decal to identify businesses that took the lead on waste reduction! 

Customer Pledge to Erase the Waste

As a customer, you can do your part by pledging to Erase the Waste and supporting local businesses that took the Erase the Waste pledge. 

Take the Customer Pledge to Erase the Waste

Does your business have questions about products and requirements associated with the new waste reduction regulations on Bainbridge Island? Have a success story or challenge you want to make sure the City is aware of?  

The City is offering monthly “COBI Chats on Waste Regulations” to connect with local businesses impacted by the 2023 waste reduction regulations. Local food and lodging businesses can talk with City staff in an informal setting to address questions or concerns associated with implementation of the new waste reduction regulations.  

Check back for more information about the next scheduled session. 

On November 9, 2021, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2021-34 to reduce plastic waste from food service and lodging businesses. Effective January 1, 2023:

• disposable plastic food service ware is prohibited
• reusable food service ware is required for on-site dining
• disposable food service ware is required to be be home compostable*
• expanded polystyrene-based food service ware (all plastics #6 and Styrofoam) for prepared food is prohibited
• a 25-cent fee for disposable cups is required
• the use of refillable dispensers for personal care products is encouraged in lodging establishments
• the distribution of single-use personal care products not packaged in “home compostable packaging” is prohibited in lodging establishments

For detailed information, please review Chapter 8.24 (Disposable Food Service Ware and Waste Reduction) of the Municipal Code or the 2023 Waste Reduction Resources page. 

*NOTE: All businesses have been granted a 3-month grace period to use up their existing supplies of non-home compostable food and beverage packaging for to-go orders (through March 31, 2023). 

Disposable food service ware – typically used for only a few minutes before being discarded – can have significant, long term environmental impacts. Bainbridge Island is working to reduce single-use plastics to protect our marine environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As of January 1, 2022, single-use food service products can only be provided on Bainbridge Island when a customer asks or confirms they would like to use them. Single-use food service products include:

• Utensils
• Straws/stirrers
• Condiments in packaging
• Beverage cups and/or lids 
  • Note: beverage cup lids for hot beverages or beverages for delivery, drive-thru, or curbside pickup are still allowed without customer request (but must be home compostable as of January 1, 2023)

As of January 1, 2023: 

• All single-use food service items must be home compostable. 
• Disposable food service items are not allowed for onsite dining.

Additional Details:

• Businesses can’t leave out bins with single-use food service items for customers to take on their own.
• Single-use food service items can’t automatically be placed in to-go orders but are available for customers who ask for them or respond “yes” to a business offering them.
• Single-use food service items are still available for customers who ask for them or respond “yes” to a business offering them but only for to-go orders (not onsite dining).