Waste Reduction Resources for Businesses

Reusable food service ware is required for all onsite dining and encouraged for to-go orders. Reusable means an item designed and manufactured to maintain its shape and structure, and to be materially durable for at least 1,000 hot water washings, such as glass, ceramic and metal containers.

• Onsite dining requirements (PDF - English)
• Comedor de las instalaciones (PDF - Español) 
• DÙNG BỮA TẠI CHỖ (PDF - Tiếng Việt)

Not Allowed

• Single-use disposable food service ware*
• Condiments served in disposable, individual-serving packaging

*Home compostable straws are allowed upon request for onsite dining.

Packaging Leftovers

Leftovers can be placed in disposable to-go containers that meet the following requirements:

• Home compostable (required for 16 products in 2024), and/or
• Certified by BPI or OK Compost HOME (includes compostable plastic containers), and/or
• Accepted for recycling by Bainbridge Disposal

Self-Service Facility Requirements:

Both reusable and disposable food service ware must be provided at self-service facilities, such as a salad bar or hot food bar, to provide compliant options for both onsite dining and to-go orders. 

• Reusable options should be clearly marked to encourage use for onsite dining.
• Any disposable food service ware items on the 2024 home compostable product list must be providing in a home compostable form for off-premises dining. 
• Any other disposable food service ware items must be certified by BPI and/or OK Compost HOME, and/or accepted for recycling by Bainbridge Disposal.

Requesting a Waiver for Onsite, Reusable Food Service Ware Requirements

Businesses without onsite or off-site dishwashing capacity may petition the City for a full or partial one-year waiver of the reusable food service ware requirements. The business must demonstrate an inability to comply due to insurmountable space constraints, undue financial hardship, and/or other extraordinary circumstances. Waivers may be granted for a partial or full one year term. Granting of a waiver is at the sole discretion of the City Manager or their designee and is not subject to appeal.

Businesses granted a temporary waiver for the use of reusable food service ware for onsite dining must provide disposable products that meet the following requirements:

• Home compostable (required for 16 products in 2025), and/or
• Certified by BPI or OK Compost HOME (includes compostable plastic containers), and/or
• Accepted for recycling by Bainbridge Disposal

Onsite Dining- Waiver Request Form (PDF - English); Please visit City Hall if you prefer a physical copy

Information Regarding Reusable Cups and Containers  

Reusable Cups: Customers may provide their own reusable cups for beverage service in accordance with the Retail Food Code, WAC 246-215-03348. Reusable cups must be clean, sturdy, and appropriately insulated if ordering hot beverages. 

Reusable Containers for Food: Retail food establishments may not refill consumer-owned containers* without a written, approved plan as required in the Retail Food Code, WAC 246-215-03348. Food establishments can submit a written plan for Kitsap County's health inspector to approve to allow consumers and employees to refill visibly clean consumer-owned containers with food. Visit the Washington State Department of Health website to complete a plan for the refilling of consumer-owned containers. Review guidance from the Kitsap Public Health District on refilling reusable containers to learn more. 

*Exceptions: 

• A written, approved plan is not required for retail food establishments to refill a consumer-owned beverage container if a contamination-free dispensing system is used by an employee or the customer; if the container is returned to the same customer; if the container can be rinsed with fresh, running hot water at the food service establishment; or if a container of any kind is refilled at a water vending station. 
• A separate plan is not required for dine-in customers to fill a personal container with their portioned meal from their individual meal service (such as a dinner entrée on their plate). 

Please contact ZeroWaste@bainbridgewa.gov with questions or for more information.

Retail food establishments on the Island providing disposable food service ware for to-go orders must use certain types of products. 

• 2026 To-go food and beverage container requirements (PDF - English) 
• Envases para llevar (PDF - Español) 
• YÊU CẦU GIẢM THIỂU CHẤT THẢI NĂM 2025 (PDF - Tiếng Việt)

In the City of Bainbridge Island, home compostable means: 

• Comprised of a natural fiber (such as paper, bamboo, sugarcane, etc.), AND
• Free of all intentionally added fluorinated chemicals (PFAS-free)^*, AND 
• Certified by the Biodegradable Product Institute (“BPI”) and/or OK Compost HOME. 

*BPI and OK Compost HOME certification indicates that products are PFAS-free. 

Note: 

• A compostable plastic product certified by BPI is not home compostable; it must be made of natural fiber. 
• A composable plastic product certified by OK Compost HOME would be considered home compostable. However, natural fiber products certified by OK Compost HOME are preferred. As of December 2023, City staff are only aware of one compostable plastic product certified by OK Compost HOME – a drinking straw made of PHA. 

Any disposable food service ware products not on the list above that are provided for to-go orders must be: 

• OK Compost HOME certified; and/or 
• BPI certified to be compostable in an industrial composting facility in a timely manner; and/or
• Accepted for recycling by Bainbridge Disposal. 

While natural fiber products are preferred, compostable plastics (such as plastic containers made of corn/PLA) are allowed for any disposable food service ware products not on the 2024 home compostable product list if they are certified by OK Compost HOME or BPI.

Bainbridge Disposal currently provides recycling collection on the Island and collects a limited number of containers that are suitable for to-go food and beverage orders for recycling. Learn more about what types of containers can be recycled on the island on the Bainbridge Disposal website.  

Please also note that:

• Expanded polystyrene-based food service ware (all plastics #6 and Styrofoam) are prohibited for all prepared foods on Bainbridge Island. 
• Metal foil and metal-foil faced papers can be used to wrap hot foods, such hamburgers and burritos. These materials are allowed for use inside home compostable containers. 

View example, compliant options for disposable, home compostable food service ware, reusable options, and available discounts for local retail food establishments. 

2025 Purchasing Guide 

Please note: 

• This guide has multiple tabs located at the bottom of the Excel file. 
• This guide does not provide an exhaustive list of all compliant product options. It provides a sample of compliant product options currently available in the market. 

As of January 1, 2023, disposable, single-use food service items are not allowed for on-premises dining and can only be provided for to-go orders when a customer affirms they want them. Single-use food service products include:

• Utensils (must be home compostable)
• Straws (must be home compostable)  
• Condiments in packaging
• Beverage cup lids (beverage cup lids for hot beverages or beverages for delivery, drive-thru, or curbside pickup are still allowed without customer request)

On September 12, 2023, City Council adopted Ordinance 2023-24 amending BIMC 8.24, Disposable Food Service Ware and Waste Reduction. Please note that:

• Businesses can leave out bins with single-use food service items for customers to take on their own (after they affirm they want them for to-go orders). 
• 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. 

Effective January 1, 2023:

• the distribution of single-use personal care products not packaged in “home compostable packaging” is prohibited in lodging establishments
• the use of refillable dispensers for personal care products is encouraged in lodging establishments

If you provide food and beverages to your customers for a charge, you must also comply with the disposable food service ware and waste reduction regulations outlined in BIMC 8.24. Check out the resources below to help your lodging establishment comply with the City's waste reduction regulations. 

• Personal care product packaging requirements (PDF - English) 
• Establecimientos de hospedaje - productos de cuidado personal (PDF - Spanish)
• Summary of 2026 waste reduction requirements - for food and beverages (PDF - English)
• Why reduce single-use plastic waste? (PDF - English)
• ¿Por qué reducir los plásticos de un solo uso? (PDF - Spanish)

Purchasing Guide for Lodging Establishments

View example, compliant options for personal care products with home compostable packaging and refillable, reusable options. 

Purchasing Guide  (Excel file will automatically download)

Please note: 

• This guide has multiple tabs located at the bottom of the Excel file. 
• This guide does not provide an exhaustive list of all compliant product options. It provides a sample of compliant product options currently available in the market. 

Please contact ZeroWaste@bainbridgewa.gov with questions or for more information.

City Council adopted new regulations to reduce single-use plastic waste, effective January 1, 2023. These regulations are intended to: 

• Reduce single-use plastic waste
• Improve the health and safety of our community members
• Keep our waterways clean and safe

Learn more about what PFAS are and why they are bad for you (PDF - English). 

Properly Dispose of To-Go Food Containers

Home compostable food service ware items are designed to be able to break down in your backyard compost bin. These items can be placed in your home compost pile or your Bainbridge Disposal yard waste cart. As of January 1, 2024, 16 products provided for to-go orders are required to be home compostable. View the 2024 home compostable product list (PDF). Home compostable products must be created from a natural fiber (i.e., no compostable plastics). 

While there are lots of home compostable products available, there aren’t home compostable options for every type of container used to transport to-go food and beverage items that meet the City's criteria for availability, performance and cost. Any disposable food service ware products provided by food retail establishments on the Island that are not included in the 2024 home compostable product list must be: 

• OK Compost HOME certified by TÜV Austria; and/or 
• Biodegradable Product Institute (“BPI”) certified to be compostable in an industrial composting facility in a timely manner; and/or
• Accepted for recycling by Bainbridge Disposal. 

Compostable plastics are allowed for use by Island businesses if they are certified by BPI and/or OK Compost HOME. However, compostable plastic products cannot be placed in your Bainbridge Disposal yard waste cart. The resources below provide guidance on which products can be recycled or composted on Bainbridge Island. 

• Bainbridge Disposal Residential Curbside Recycling Guide
• Bainbridge Disposal Residential Curbside Compost and Yard Waste Guide 
• Sustainable Bainbridge’s Recycling Resources (explore specialty item reuse and recycling options, including Ridwell)
• Recycling Right in Kitsap County

When in Doubt, Find Out! If you are unsure whether a product can be recycled or composted, check with Bainbridge Disposal using the links above.

Concerned a business may not be in compliance with the new waste reduction regulations?

You can report businesses that don’t appear to be following the City's waste reduction regulations by submitting a report of non-compliance on See, Click, Fix.

Before you submit a report, please note:

• The City adopted Ordinance 2023-24 amending BIMC 8.24, Disposable Food Service Ware and Waste Reduction on September 12, 2023. Key changes are noted below: 
  • No mandatory 25 cent disposable cup fee. As of September 2023, food retail establishments on the Island are no longer required to charge a 25 cent disposable cup fee for each disposable, home compostable beverage cup provided to customers for off-premises dining. Businesses may continue to charge a fee if they want to. 
  • Effective January 1, 2024, only 16 disposable food service ware products are required to be home compostable for to-go orders. This list was developed based on availability, cost and performance criterial. View the list of disposable food service ware products required in a home compostable form in 2024. 
    • Note that compostable plastics are allowed for any to-go containers not included on the 2024 home compostable product list; however, those compostable plastic products must be certified by BPI and/or OK Compost HOME. 
  • Metal foil and metal foil-faced papers can be used to wrap hot food such as hamburgers and burritos. These products may be used inside home compostable containers. 
  • Utensils, straws, condiments in packaging and beverage cups lids can be left out for customers in cylinders, bins, dispensers, containers or other means to take on a self-service basis for to-go orders only. Businesses must still affirm customers want these items but can leave them out for self-service after affirmation. 
• Businesses may request a temporary waiver for the reusable food service ware requirements for onsite dining. Please see the Requirements for Onsite Dining section above for a list of businesses currently granted a temporary waiver. 

Have questions? Contact ZeroWaste@bainbridgewa.gov. 

In 1989, the City prohibited retail food establishments from using non-biodegradable packaging (Styrofoam), followed by the Single Use Carry Out Bag Ordinance in 2012 (Ordinance 2012-06, commonly known as the "plastic bag ban"). 

In January 2020, the charge for a retailer’s paper bags increased from five cents to eight cents to be consistent with the charge in the rest of Kitsap County as authorized by Ordinance 2019-30.

In June 2021, the Council passed Ordinance 2021-18, which only allows single-use food service products to be provided when a customer asks or confirms they would like to use them. In November 2021, City Council adopted Ordinance No. 2021-34 to reduce plastic waste from food service and lodging businesses.

On September 12, 2023, City Council adopted Ordinance 2023-24 amending BIMC 8.24, Disposable Food Service Ware and Waste Reduction. These changes were made based on feedback from local businesses and City staff experience implementing the disposable food service ware and waste reduction requirements that went into effect in 2022 and 2023.

Learn More2026 Food Retail Establishment Guidelines

FAQ: 2026 Requirements FAQs

Article: Why reduce single-use plastic waste? ¿Por qué reducir los plásticos de un solo uso?

Article: What are PFAS and why are they bad for you?  

Code: Chapter 8.24 City Code 

Ordinance: Ordinance 2023-30 

Have questions? Unsure if a product is compliant with City regulations?

Contact ZeroWaste@bainbridgewa.gov.