These guidelines apply to all BPPA-sponsored events and any private event using BPPA facilities (Bay Beach, L Street Park). The goal is simple: zero single-use plastic at community events.
If you’re hosting or catering a BPPA event, please share this page with your team.
Reusables first, always
The best ocean-friendly option isn’t a different kind of single-use product. It’s no single-use product at all. Real plates, real cups, real silverware. Wash them.
What’s not allowed
- Plastic utensils (forks, knives, spoons)
- Plastic cups, plates, and bowls
- Styrofoam of any kind
- Plastic clamshell containers
- Plastic straws
- Single-use plastic water bottles
- Bioplastic foodware, including anything labeled PLA, “compostable plastic,” “plant-based plastic,” “bio-based,” or “biodegradable” without certification
What to use instead
When reusables aren’t possible, look for products made from minimally-processed, naturally occurring materials:
- Utensils: bamboo, wood (FSC-certified birch, poplar, or pine)
- Plates and bowls: palm leaf (made from fallen leaves), bamboo, uncoated paper
- Cups: stainless steel, glass, aluminum, or coating-free paper (look for SOFi or similar)
- Straws: paper, reed, hay, bamboo, or skip the straw entirely
- Sauce containers: porcelain, stainless steel ramekins, or palm leaf
- Water: reusable bottles. Refill stations are at L Street Park and Bay Beach.
How to spot greenwashing
A lot of products marketed as “eco” or “green” are just plastic with a leaf logo. A few quick tests Surfrider recommends:
- If it looks and feels like plastic, it probably is. Even if it’s labeled “compostable” or “plant-based.”
- Check for real certifications. USDA BioPreferred 100% Biobased and TUV OK Compost HOME are the gold standards. ASTM D6400 means industrial compost only (avoid).
- Avoid these phrases: “PLA,” “CPLA,” “bio-based,” “plant-based plastic,” “biodegradable,” “degradable,” “marine biodegradable,” “eco-friendly,” “made from renewable resources.” None of these guarantee anything.
- Watch for PFAS. “Forever chemicals” show up in a lot of paper and fiber products to make them grease-resistant. Look for “PFAS-free” labeling.
- No ingredient list? Walk away. Transparency is a baseline requirement.
Where to buy compliant supplies
Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Foodware Guide vets specific vendors. A few that meet the bar:
Utensils (wood and bamboo, home compostable)
- Bambu (bambuhome.com)
- Eco-Gecko (via Webstaurant)
- Wood Able
- Holy City Straw Company
Plates and bowls (palm leaf, bamboo)
- VerTerra
- Clear Conscience
- Bambu
Cups
- Klean Kanteen (reusable stainless)
- Ball Aluminum Cup (recyclable)
- SOFi (coating-free paper, home compostable)
- Webstaurant (glass, stoneware)
Straws (if needed at all)
- Aardvark (paper, PFAS-free, home compostable)
- Holy City Straw Company (reed, wheat)
- HAY! Straws (wheat stems)
Reusable containers and serveware
- Klean Kanteen, ECOlunchbox, UKonserve (stainless food boxes)
- Costco, local grocery stores (bamboo utensil packs, paper plates)
Waste management on site
Events need proper sorting on the day. Clearly labeled bins for recyclables and green bin materials, separate from trash. If you’re hosting, plan for this in advance. Surfrider can provide guidance.