On Tuesday, Dec 14, the Carlsbad City Council will consider a resolution to accept city staff’s completed Sustainable Materials Management Implementation Plan. The plan is largely a response to California Senate Bill 1383, which requires cities to provide organics collection (i.e. curbside composting) and a host food recovery programs starting in 2022.  SB-1383 aims to help California reach a 75% reduction of organic waste sent to landfill by by 2025. Organic waste in landfills is responsible for 20% of the state’s emissions of methane, a climate super pollutant that is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. 

The city plan also includes an important road map of recommended single-use plastic reduction measures for the council to consider next year. These include: 

• A prohibition on the use of EPS foam foodware by July 2023. Alternatives required to be reusable, compostable or marine degradable. 
• A plastic bag ban for retail establishments and restaurants to compliment the statewide bag ban, which mainly addresses grocery outlets and liquor stores. The proposed timeline recommends the bag bans to be enforced in July 2023 for retail and July 2024 for restaurants.
• A ban on single-use plastic bottles at City facilities and City-affiliated events, enforceable by July 2023.
• A citywide ban on intentional balloon releases due to the well-documented harm they cause to marine wildlife, also enforceable by July 2023.