Carlsbad Cracks Down On Single-Use Plastics To Curb Pollution

CARLSBAD, CA — A new city law went into effect Wednesday that aims to reduce the amount of single-use plastics from eateries in Carlsbad.

The ordinance is based on AB-1276, a state law referred to as "Skip the Stuff" that expands the 2019 straw-upon-request law to include all types of disposable foodware.

Restaurants and food delivery services in Carlsbad can now only provide items such as straws, utensils and condiment packets upon customer request.

The ordinance affects all food facilities in the city, including restaurants, cafes, hotels and other vendors. It also applies to dine-in, take-out, drive-through and delivery services, as well as city facilities and events.

Going beyond state requirements, the city has also banned single-use plastic foodware and polystyrene containers. That new law will go into effect July 1. The city plans to begin enforcement by July 2023, after giving local businesses a year to transition to other materials.

"This ban goes above and beyond state law and reflects Carlsbad's commitment to sustainability," the city said in a statement.

The City Council approved both laws on April 5. The new ordinances are part of a broader sustainability implementation plan to curb plastic pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the city.

The plan, which was approved by the council in December 2021, also calls for:

• A ban on the use of plastic beverage bottles for city facilities and city-affiliated events by July 1, 2023;
• A ban on intentionally releasing balloons, which would go into effect by July 1, 2023;
• And a phased-in implementation plastic bag ban, which would go into effect for retail stores in July 2023 and expand to restaurants by July 2024.

Single-use materials from food and beverages make up approximately 25 percent of the waste produced in California, according to the city.

"Cups, straws, containers, condiments and other food-related items made with plastic and expanded polystyrene do not break down, litter our community, and cause harm to our local lagoons, ocean and wildlife," the city said in a statement.

In 2019, the San Diego chapter of Surfrider removed 15,511 plastic bottles and caps from San Diego County beaches, according to the organization, which commended Carlsbad's efforts to curb plastic pollution.

"It is wonderful to see cities like Carlsbad taking the plastic pollution crisis seriously," said Alex Ferron, coordinator of the San Diego chapter of Surfrider. "...We are shifting the culture away from consumers having to 'make the right choice,' and instead, providing them with better alternatives."