The California city that wants to eliminate disposable coffee cups

Berkeley's new law targeting throwaway food packaging requires customers to go reusable or pay a fee

The next time Charles Bunch goes on a coffee break without his reusable coffee mug, he knows he's going to pay for it.

On 1 January, the city of Berkeley, California, where Bunch works, rolled out the nation's most comprehensive law to fight throw-away food packaging. The groundbreaking new rules require restaurants and cafes to charge 25 cents for each disposable cup, make all to-go containers compostable and, starting in July, use reusable foodware, such as porcelain dishes, for customers who are dining in.