Watsonville's Ban On Plastics, Foam Ware Sets New High Standard

WATSONVILLE, CA — Restrictions on single-use plastics and foam food ware in Watsonville were greatly expanded Tuesday after city council unanimously approved two new ordinances that will begin rolling out next year. The first ordinance will prohibit plastic and foam food ware anywhere within city limits, including inside city facilities and on any project sites under city contract. The ordinance forces restaurants, fast food chains, school campuses and all others to switch over to biodegradable and compostable products.

The ordinance will start January 1, 202o with a ban on plastic straws. The rollout will continue: By January 1, 2021 1) all plastic and foam food ware must be replaced with compostable items; 2) a mandatory 10-cent charge will be placed on disposable plastic cups; and 3) companies that provide food ware will be required to have separate disposable waste receptacles for those items.

This new ordinance—titled “Single Use Food Ware, Environmentally Acceptable Products, and Litter Reduction Ordinance”—replaces the city's existing “Environmentally Acceptable Packaging and Products Ordinance.”

"Biodegradable and compostable food service ware is the most responsible and sustainable choice for the community and environment," city staff wrote in a report to council. "Biodegradable products such as cups, plates, clamshell containers and cutlery are now made from sources such as paper, sugarcane stalk, corn by-products and potato starch. As these products degrade, they pose less risk to human and wildlife health. Additionally, compostable food service ware has become increasingly available locally with the growing demand for replacing plastics with compostable products."

The second ordinance adopted during Tuesday night's city council meeting will prohibit small, single-use bottles for personal care products that are often found in hotel, motel, vacation rental and other visitor accommodations. Titled the "Hospitality Industry Plastic Reduction Ordinance," the new policy takes effect January 1, 2020. The ordinance is consistent with one adopted in Santa Cruz County that takes effect December 31, 2020.

In its report to council member, city staff said plastics are littering local parks and public places, streets, storm drains, the Watsonville wetlands and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. "This plastic litter has a financial cost to city residents through cleanup and street sweeping
efforts, poses environmental and water quality issues, threatens the health of humans
and wildlife, and as research show littered areas perpetuate littering behavior."

Staff said the ordinances are "the next step in protecting the health, safety, and welfare of our environment and all who live, work and do business in the city."