Coronado, CA Poised to Adopt Plastic Reduction Ordinance

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): After several months of discussion about what a potential reduction ordinance would look like, the Coronado City Council is ready to implement a law aimed at reducing plastic consumption. The council agreed at its Dec. 3 meeting to ban the following: single-use carryout bags at grocery stores, retail stores, and food establishments; polystyrene foam take-out containers for food vendors and at city-affiliated events; and single-use utensils (with recyclable or compostable utensils available upon request only).

The council also approved requiring that food environments allow customers to bring their own reusable cups and banned the sale and intentional release of lighter-than-air balloons. Council members opted against banning pre-checkout plastic bags — such as those used to bag produce or meat — because a state law will ban them starting on Jan. 1, 2025.

The Coronado Chamber of Commerce surveyed local businesses to assess how any potential bans would impact them. On a scale of one to five, with one indicating no preference, businesses said that a ban on polystyrene foam containers would carry the lowest impact, while prohibiting the sale of single-use water bottles would carry the highest. The council decided against the latter.

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com