California pushes back on CDC guidelines for single-use dishware in restaurants
Reusable grocery bags were first to go, now silverware and ceramic plates could be next. As restaurants across the country re-open for full-service dining, states like California are at odds with new CDC recommendations, Politico reports. The agency is advising businesses to use disposable dishes, utensils, napkins, and tablecloths—a step back for California, which had led the way in eliminating single-use plastics before the Covid-19 pandemic. The state’s recycling and clean water groups are pushing back on the federal guidance, posing questions around how much is known about surface transmission of the novel coronavirus. Some environmental organizations are reaching out to restaurants directly, asking that they make only reusable dishware available for on-site dining and provide utensils for take-out orders only upon request.
