The Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter congratulates the City of Solana Beach City Council for unanimously passing a comprehensive plastics reduction ordinance that builds upon the existing expanded polystyrene foam ban at restaurants.
Solana Beach’s ordinance prohibits the use and sale of food service ware by any establishment in the city if the food service ware is not recyclable or compostable. It disallows the use or sale by any establishment in the city of single-use straws, utensils, stirrers, splash sticks, cocktail sticks or toothpicks made with plastic. The ordinance stipulates a requirement that food vendors distribute those non-plastic common single-use food accessory items only upon request by the customer and that they must be recyclable or compostable. It also prohibits the retail sale and use of polystyrene products which are not encased in a harder plastic, such as foam coolers and beach toys. Additionally, the ordinance prohibits the use of plastic bottled water at city facilities or events on city property.
The San Diego County Chapter submitted comment letters and attended City Council meetings to speak in favor of this ordinance.
Parts of the ordinance take effect on May 1st, 2020 and the rest take effect on November 1, 2020. Click here to view the ordinance language.
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Plastic Pollution
Our chapter has multiple committees dedicated to the Surfrider Plastic Pollution Initiative. These include a countywide Beach Cleanup program, the Rise Above Plastics (RAP) committee, the Ocean Friendly Restaurants program, and a campaign to end cigarette butt litter - Ban the Butt.
End Plastic Pollution