Restaurants across the city are tossing out Styrofoam containers to make way for corn husk and other recyclable materials as polystyrene became illegal in eateries starting today.

When Millbrae passed its polystyrene ordinance in October, it became the first city in the county to ban Styrofoam, which is a source of litter because it is not biodegradable. The city gave shops a few months to clear out their old materials to make way for greener supplies and begins enforcement today.

“The difference is in the price,” said Darline Marquard, who owns Zack’s Bar and Grill on El Camino Real. “I’m just one person, but you can imagine everybody having trouble [replacing their containers].”

Marquard used to buy Styrofoam takeout containers from Costco but had to find a separate green supplier after she realized the warehouse store did not sell alternative products.

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Peter Liu, who owns Peter’s Café on El Camino Real and the Sixteen Mile House on Broadway, said it was about 35 percent more expensive for him to replace Styrofoam products with other recyclable materials.

The business owners “have got in touch with some of the alternative suppliers and they’ve definitely found that it’s more expensive,” said Chamber of Commerce CEO and President John Ford. “As more and more cities make the transition … the cost will decrease.”

The higher fees will likely be passed on to the consumer, Ford said, but likely not in the form of any major price hikes.

Yumi Yogurt owner Michael Yavari eliminated his store’s smallest of five bowl sizes to help offset extra costs after switching from Styrofoam to plastic.

The response from customers on the eco-friendly substitute has been great he said — so much so that he plans on eliminating Styrofoam at his other locations outside of Millbrae on his own accord.

Millbrae joins other Bay Area cities such as San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Emeryville that have banned the products.

Most businesses are willing to make the change as long as they are given time to phase out their old products, said Emeryville Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Bob Canter.

“Most businesses today, especially in the Bay Area, like to be positioned as green businesses,” he said.

The city will enforce the ban by levying fines based on complaints but it should be a couple of months before the city sees full compliance, Ford said.

mrosenberg@examiner.com