Yarmouth Board allows Sea Dog Brew Pub/Cafe9 to use existing plastic stock until October, discusses plastics waiver process

The Yarmouth Board of Health on June 1 granted a temporary variance allowing Sea Dog Brew Pub/Cafe9 to use existing stock of noncompliant plastic items through the end of October while the business phases in compliant alternatives.

Peter Lucido of Sea Dog Brew Pub/Cafe9 apologized for missing two prior scheduled appearances and told the Board he met with vendors in March and that the cafe still has a substantial inventory of plastic cups and lids. He said other items will be phased out and replaced: plated ramekins will be replaced with single-use packets for takeout and metal ramekins for dine-in, and the business has already switched to compliant agave straws. Mary Craig moved to grant Sea Dog a variance for existing plastic stock until the end of October; Scott Brewer seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Board members asked Lucido to notify Phil Renaud if the business becomes compliant before the variance end date.

Barry Lewis reviewed the history of the town's plastics regulation and told the Board the Health Department will perform initial reviews of routine plastics waiver requests going forward, referring more complicated cases back to the Board. As a procedural item, Board member Hillard Boskey requested adding a printed-name line beneath the signature block on the waiver application form to improve clarity for applicants.

The Board thanked Laurie Turi of Subacquisitions LLC (doing business as Subway) for updating her products and confirmed she no longer requires a waiver. The Board did not set monetary penalties or additional compliance deadlines for Sea Dog beyond the October variance expiration.