SMC Restaurant Garbage Creates 'Less Than Sanitary' Conditions: Report

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — Garbage disposal areas outside San Mateo County restaurants are often "less than sanitary" and inconsistently monitored for cleanliness, posing health risks to workers, waste haulers and the public, a county civil grand jury found.

In a report published Tuesday, the jury said it found "deficient," "unsanitary," "unsightly" and "odorous" conditions around garbage disposal areas and under parklets outside restaurants in San Mateo County.

While the county subjects restaurant interiors to inspection and certain health standards, the jury said protocol for restaurant exteriors depend on disparate standards of sanitation, safety and inspection set by the local jurisdictions in which restaurants lie.

The result, the jury found, were "inconsistent at best" and sometimes "nonexistent" methods of ensuring exterior cleanliness in county restaurants.

Citing responses to a survey of San Mateo County's 20 cities, the jury found cities generally rely on the county's health department to inspect restaurant interiors and only inspect exterior conditions if they receive a complaint.

The jury, however, also found that inspections by the county's health inspectors generally exclude restaurant exteriors, where garbage disposal areas are often located.

Among the potential impacts of unkempt garbage disposal areas and parklets were a general "unsightliness" and the presence of insects, rats, mice and raccoons.

To ensure cleanliness and allay health hazards near restaurants, the jury recommended that San Mateo County require restaurants to post a written diagram of their waste retention areas for health inspectors, inspect garbage disposal areas and restaurant exteriors more thoroughly and empower localities to demand that restaurants increase the frequency of trash pickups. The jury recommended that the county implement these policies by June 30, 2025.

The San Mateo County Health Department is considering the findings and recommendations of the jury's report, department spokesperson Preston Merchant said Tuesday. The department will withhold comment pending its response to the jury's report, Merchant added.

The jury was not immediately available to comment further on the findings.

Story by Cameron Fozi, Bay City News.

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