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Single Use Plastics Bans

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Californians throw away 123,000 tons of plastic each year, and City of Santa Barbara's single use plastic ban is a right step towards the direction to stem the flow of plastic into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (the gyre of trash several hundred miles off the coast).

Learn more about City of Santa Barbara regulations related to single use plastics below.

Sections

This ordinance went into effect July 1st, 2019.

On October 9th, 2018, Santa Barbara City Council voted 6-1 to adopt an ordinance prohibiting the distribution and sale of plastic straws and stirrers as well as limitations to the distribution of plastic cutlery which can only be provided "upon request".

Important Elements:

This ordinance went into effect at 2:01am on July 1st, 2019.
The proposed ordinance includes exemptions in consideration of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

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What does it do?

Prohibits food providers and beverage providers from using, providing, distributing, or selling plastic beverage straws and plastic stirrers to any person. Non-plastic alternative straws shall be provided only upon request.
"Compostable" plant-based plastic (PLA) straws and stirrers are also banned.
Prohibits food providers and beverage providers from providing plastic cutlery to any person unless the person asks for them or "upon request".

What does it NOT do?

Why are compostable plant-based plastic straws not permitted?

Polylactic acid or PLA is a plastic material made from plants instead of traditional petroleum-based plastics. If certified compostable, this material can only be composted in a commercial composting facility with high heat and processing. When these PLA straws get into the natural environment like our creeks and oceans they act like a traditional petroleum-based straw. There are currently no plant-based PLA straws that are certified compostable in a marine environment and therefore they are being treated as a marine pollutant.

What are the alternatives to plastic straws?

1) Reusable Straws are the best alternative!

For residents that frequent coffee, smoothie, or other beverage shops, we recommend making a reusable straw (and cup) part of your daily routine. Reusable straws are available at many retailers and come in a range of materials like bamboo, stainless steel, and silicon to name a few. If you bring your reusable cup, many vendors also offer discounts.

For businesses that offer beverages, providing a reusable straw that can be added to your normal dishwasher cycle will save you money over time. Reusable straws generally cost a little more money upfront but you will no longer be spending money on single-use straws that end up in the trash or the environment.

2) Single-use Straw Alternatives

If a reusable option isn't available, paper straws are a great alternative and come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. There are also thicker more durable paper straws for businesses that require a longer lasting straw.

Who does this affect?

Beverage Providers - any business, organization, entity, group, or individual located within the City that offers beverages to the public for consumption. (E.g. bars, coffee shops, smoothie shops)
Food Providers - any person located within the City that is a retailer of prepared food or beverages for public consumption including, but not limited to, any delicatessen, restaurant, shop, caterer, mobile food vendor, or store or supermarket that provides retail to-go or eat-in food or beverage service.
City facilities or any City-sponsored event

What penalties are there?

Our Trash & Recycling business outreach team interacts with Santa Barbara businesses on a daily basis to address a host of recycling, food scraps composting, trash service, plastic bag use, and nuisance topics. By practice, City staff works proactively to use education as a first line of compliance with all trash and recycling programs and it has proven successful for environmental programs. Our team will continue to educate and assist businesses in finding alternative products to gain compliance prior to the adopted ordinance's operative date.

The penalties for violation of this Chapter shall be as follows:

A. For the first violation, a written warning notice will be issued to the beverage provider or food provider in order to confirm their understanding of the ordinance and the potential penalties in the event of future violations.

B. The second and each successive violation shall be punishable by civil administrative fines pursuant to Chapter 1.25 of this Code (civil penalties referenced in Chapter 1.28 are not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250) for each day or part thereof that said violation occurs). This Chapter shall not be criminally enforceable.

C. Violations of this Chapter shall be deemed to create a public nuisance. The City Attorney may seek legal, injunctive, or other equitable relief to enforce this Chapter. Each and every piece of plastic cutlery, plastic beverage straws, or plastic stirrers provided in violation of this Chapter shall constitute a separate violation of this Chapter and a continuing nuisance.

Ban on EPS, commonly referred to as styrofoam or foam, went into effect Jan. 1, 2019.

On July 24th, 2018, Santa Barbara City Council adopted an ordinance prohibiting the distribution and retail sale of expanded polystyrene food and beverage containers.

Expanded polystyrene is commonly referred to as "styrofoam" or "foam". EPS is not recyclable in Santa Barbara. EPS products often find their way into the local environment since EPS breaks down into smaller pieces and is so light that it floats in water and is easily carried by the wind, even when it has been disposed of properly. It is in the City's interest to establish programs and services that reduce the amount of litter in the environment, in particular beach litter and marine pollution, which increases the quality of life for residents and visitors, and protects local wildlife habitat.

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Resources for Businesses

When did it go into effect?

What does it do?

Prohibits any food or beverage vendor from distributing expanded polystyrene. This includes, but is not limited to, dine-in orders, to-go orders, and food or beverage products packaged in the City of Santa Barbara that do not meet the ordinance exemptions.
Prohibits any retailer from selling or otherwise providing any expanded polystyrene product which is not wholly encapsulated. For instance, coolers made only from expanded polystyrene are banned but plastic coolers that have expanded polystyrene sealed within the plastic container are allowed.

What types of expanded polystyrene (EPS) products are prohibited by the ban?

What are the alternatives to expanded polystyrene?

Reusable Containers are the best alternative!

For residents that frequent coffee, smoothie, or food vendors, we recommend making a reusable cup or food container part of your daily routine. You can bring one for leftovers or even to-go orders, just order "for here" and then transfer to your container.

Reusable containers are available at many retailers and come in a range of materials. If you bring your reusable cup, many vendors also offer discounts.

For businesses, encouraging patrons to bring a reusable cup or food container can save you money on decreased disposable container costs. Setup a "transfer table" for residents that would like to order To-Go food and use their reusable container instead of disposables. Some business types can even try to close-the-loop on their products by offering incentives for patrons to bring back the original container that the product was sold in; then clean and sanitize containers for reuse. If you currently provide disposables for dine-in patrons, consider using reusable dishware instead and it could save you money on your trash bill.

If you have any questions about alternative materials or how to incorporate more reusables in your business, please reach out to one of our City Recycling Coordinators at (805) 564-5631. We're here to help!

Who does this affect?

What are the exemptions?

The following foods or products are exempt from the provisions of this Chapter:

Foods prepared or packaged outside the City and then sold within the City.
Raw meat, fish, and other raw food trays.
Products made from expanded polystyrene which are wholly encapsulated or encased by a more durable material. Examples include surfboards, life preservers, and craft supplies which are wholly encapsulated or encased by a more durable material, and coolers encased in hard plastic.
Construction products made from expanded polystyrene are exempt from this Chapter if the products are used in compliance with Title 22, Environmental Policy and Construction, and Chapter 22.87, Stormwater Management for Development and redevelopment Projects, and used in a manner preventing the expanded polystyrene from being released into the environment.
During a locally declared emergency, the City, emergency response agencies operating within the City, users of City facilities, and food providers shall be exempt from the provisions of this Chapter.
Expanded polystyrene packaging products which have been received from sources outside the City may be reused in order to keep the products out of the waste stream.

Other exemptions that require an application:

Financial Hardship or Practical Difficulty Exemption: Food or beverage providers can apply for an exemption from this ordinance for up to one-year by demonstrating, in writing to the City Finance Director, that this ordinance would create an undue hardship or practical difficulty as evidenced by no alternatives being available or such alternatives are not affordable to the food provider or beverage provider.
Public Health and Safety Exemption: Food or beverage providers can apply for an exemption from this ordinance by demonstrating, in writing to the City Finance Director, that there is a public health and safety requirement or medical necessity to use the product.

Single Use Plastics Bans

Plastic Bags

The What and Whys

Learn More

Plastic Beverage Straws, Stirrers, and Cutlery

Important Documents

Frequently Asked Questions about Straws, Stirrers, and Cutlery Ordinance

Foam (Expanded Polystyrene or Styrofoam)

Frequently Asked Questions about Foam