At the study sessions, council members will consider the potential effects such bans would have on local retailers, cafes and eateries.
Many San Carlos restaurants have voluntarily replaced Styrofoam containers with sustainable or recyclable products, Moura said.
"The City Council wants to have an initial discussion on whether a Styrofoam ban is even necessary," he said.
San Mateo County would cover the costs of inspecting businesses in the city and enforcing a Styrofoam ban, Moura said.
San Mateo County, Millbrae, South San Francisco, Pacifica and San Bruno already have Styrofoam bans in place.
A ban on plastic bags is expected to be a more contentious issue, Moura said.
The city of Palo Alto was sued by a coalition of groups that included plastic bag manufacturers and distributors after its City Council enacted a plastic bag ban without preparing an environmental impact report in 2009, Moura said.
Preparing an EIR for the ban would cost the city of San Carlos about $150,000, Moura said.
The City Council will discuss the bans at its 7 p.m. meeting at 600 Elm St. in San Carlos.
