The Carlsbad City Council approved a new city law last Tuesday aimed at reducing the amount of unused and unwanted single-use plastic that ends up in landfills each year when people take food to go.
Starting June 1, restaurants and food delivery services in Carlsbad must only provide single-use plastic food ware like straws, utensils and condiment packets when customers ask for it. This requirement is based on a state mandate commonly called “Skip the Stuff.”
Starting July 1, a city ban on single-use plastic food ware and polystyrene will take effect, with enforcement phased in by July 2023. This ban goes above and beyond state law and is part of Carlsbad’s commitment to sustainability.
The changes are part of a larger set of initiatives the city is implementing to help protect the environment by eliminating hard-to-recycle waste from landfills, reduce plastic pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Why it’s important
Single-use materials from food and beverages make up approximately 25% of the waste produced in California.
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.
Offering these items only when requested will reduce waste and save businesses money
Keeps 1,196 tons of these materials out of the landfill each year
Reduces Carlsbad’s overall waste stream by 3%
Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 0.73%, which is the equivalent of 369 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or 6,101 tree seedlings grown for 10 years
Carlsbad’s new 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. City staff have already begun working with businesses to educate them on the changes. Targeted education and outreach will continue over the next year.
More changes coming
The new ordinance is part of a sustainability implementation plan approved by the City Council in December 2021 that spells out how the city will help reduce plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions over the coming years. The plan 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
A phased in implementation plastic bag ban which would go into effect for retail only in July 2023 and expand to restaurants by July 2024
State organics law and new trash hauler
Another part of the implementation plan is compliance with the state’s organics recycling law where organic waste will be diverted from the landfill.
On July 1, 2022, Republic Services will take over from Waste Management as the City of Carlsbad’s contracted waste hauler. Their services will include providing organics collection services to all residents and businesses. At that time, Carlsbad residents will begin disposing of their food scraps with their green waste. Republic’s recycling coordinators have already started visiting Carlsbad business to let them know about the new organic recycling law, new organic services provided and determine how to best help them comply.
The law also requires some businesses to participate in an edible food recovery program and raise awareness about reducing food waste in the community.
