Tomorrow, December 2, the Santa Barbara City Council will review the Ordinance Committee’s recommended changes to single-use plastics, including the prohibition of all plastic carry-out bags at grocery stores; the release of latex balloons and the sale, use, and distribution of Mylar balloons; the sale of plastic and Mylar confetti; and the sale of single-use plastic water bottles eight ounces or smaller.
At restaurants, any food or beverage consumed on site would have to be served on reusable foodware. (“Exemptions would be available on a case-by-case basis for businesses that cannot obtain access to adequate dishwashing capacity.”) For takeout, any disposable foodware and cutlery would need to be compostable within the City’s collection programs.
On one hand, I’m doing everything I can to use as little “disposable” plastic as possible, and I wish other people would do the same—and wishes only go so far. On the other hand, legislating this kind of thing at the city level seems like a well-intentioned overreach, with enforcement tricky at best. Is the full-time Code Enforcement Officer hired by the Sustainability & Resilience Department going to hunt down people who release balloons? And round up purveyors of plastic confetti at Fiesta?
If this isn’t the right answer, what is?
Here’s the Ordinance Committee’s description of the changes:
Polystyrene Foodware and Products. In 2019, the City banned expanded polystyrene food containers and products due to recycling challenges and health risks to wildlife. The new proposed ordinance would amend SBMC 9.160 and add rigid polystyrene and additional expanded polystyrene products to the ban. The sale and distribution of polystyrene foodware and EPS cartons and trays would be prohibited. Exemptions will be provided for food prepared or packaged outside of the City.
Disposable Foodware Standards. To further align with regulations adopted by neighboring jurisdictions, the City proposes expanding its Straws, Stirrers, and Cutlery Ordinance (SBMC 9.165). Plastic and bioplastic foodware cannot be recycled or processed at the County’s ReSource Center and, as a result, all disposable plastic foodware is landfilled. The proposed ordinance would prohibit the distribution of disposable foodware and cutlery that are not compostable within the City’s collection programs. Fiber, paper, bamboo, and wheat straw are acceptable alternatives that can be composted at the ReSource Center.
Single-Use Beverage Container Regulations. Single-use beverage containers are common sources of litter that pollute the marine environment. To address this, the ordinance proposes a limited single-use plastic water bottle ban. Vendors would be prohibited from selling single-use plastic water bottles that are eight fluid ounces or smaller in size. To support the change, the City would seek to add water refill stations in key locations, simplify permitting, and launch a public campaign to educate residents on water quality and plastic pollution impacts. Exemptions would be provided for emergencies and other situations deemed necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare. In addition to plastic bottles, the ordinance proposes banning aseptic paper packaging, such as juice boxes or Tetrapak, at City-owned and operated facilities. Aseptic containers are very challenging to recycle and are not accepted in the City’s recycling collection program. Municipal funds would not be used to purchase non-compliant packaging.
Mylar and Latex Balloon Restrictions. Balloons are sources of marine debris that can endanger ocean life when ingested. Mylar balloons also pose public safety risks, potentially causing power outages and fires. To mitigate these risks, the ordinance would prohibit the sale, use, and distribution of Mylar ballons within the City. The release of latex balloons would also be prohibited. Residents are encouraged to use safer alternatives, such as reusable paper lanterns or paper banners, for celebrations.
Plastic and Mylar Confetti Restrictions. Plastic and Mylar confetti are not biodegradable and can harm wildlife and pollute waterways. To reduce this impact, the ordinance proposes banning the sale of plastic and Mylar confetti. Residents can opt for safer alternatives, such as paper confetti or leaves and flower petals for celebrations.
Reusable Foodware Policy for On-Site Dining. Businesses can simultaneously reduce their waste generation and save money by opting for reusable foodware when serving food and beverages on-site. A cost analysis of reusable foodware by UpStream Solutions, a nonprofit specializing in reuse, concluded that cost savings are usually realized within a few months and always within a year when switching to reusables. The ordinance would require food and beverages served for on-site consumption to be served on reusable foodware only. Exemptions would be available on a case-by-case basis for businesses that cannot obtain access to adequate dishwashing capacity. To assist with the transition to reusables, the City would seek to provide grants for dishwashers and reusable foodware purchases.
Reusable Cup Requirement for Large Events. Single-use plastic and bioplastic cups are not recyclable through the City’s collection system and are landfilled. The proposed ordinance would require permitted events to ensure that at least 10% of beverages served at the event are served in reusable cups. Event organizers would be required to state how the requirement will be met in the event permit application.
Plastic Bag Ban. The City’s current Single-Use Carryout Bag Ordinance allows for the distribution of reusable plastic bags that meet a minimum thickness. In 2024, California passed Senate Bill 1053, which bans all plastic carryout bags at grocery stores by January 1, 2026. The proposed ordinance would repeal SBMC 9.150 and adopt the latest state legislation.
P.S. I do think it’s time for the farmers’ market to stop offering plastic bags.
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The Farmers’ Market, especially. Last week they barely asked even though my reusable bag was practically in their faces. I get that it’s busy and they’re trying to move people along, or even just use up all these plastic bags they ordered, but they really shouldn’t anymore. Think other markets like in Hollywood charge, finally.
But I appreciated them for cleaning up after pets.
This is petty and a waste of local government’s time.
If I don’t put my produce in plastic bags, it wilts very quickly. I shop at farmers market weekly and keeping stuff in plastic bags can get my produce incredible longevity in the fridge. The smelly “compostable” bags at the grocery stores don’t offer the same benefit either. Leafy greens and herbs wilt quickly and the bags stink. When I had a CSA box I ended up processing everything upon delivery and putting anything that could wilt into ziploc bags which use more plastic than the whisper thin bags at farmers.
I say this as a hardcore environmentalist with a minor in environmental science. This is a waste of time and energy. Let’s have our local government put their energy and enforcement and our tax dollars toward issues that are hyper local.
I am far more concerned about the proliferation of plastics in general life (people are wearing plastic, walking on plastic, sleeping under plastic blankets, etc. etc.) than carry out bags (and who doesn’t reuse many of them for various purposes?) and produce bags.
Agreed, this ban is a fart in a hurricane which will have no measurable impact on microplastics in our environment. We have much bigger issues to tackle that produce actual results for people in SB. I’ll also add, it’s endless regulations like these that make the cost of living and doing business in Santa Barbara so damn high. Businesses are being micromanaged by people who’ve never ran a business.,
The grocery store “compostable” bags are awful and take a very long time to actually degrade.
Suggestions:
1. Take your own bags to the Farmer’s Market and to the grocery store
2. Ziploc bags: use, rinse out/dry, reuse, repeat until time to recycle at Planet Protectors behind Ablitts.
2. Alternatively, I’ve found that reusable mesh bags keep veggies, fruit, etc. fresher longer than plastic. I like Lotus brand bags that are BPA-free and machine washable.
Nothing to see here folks. Just a group of inept do-gooders who think their job is to rule over you and tell how to live your life. Not too many things more evident of this social challenge than buying a cart full of plastic covered packaged goods and being denied a proper receptacle to carry them to your car. Which is also made of plastic…
On almost every measure Santa Barbara is failing city and yet the City Council thinks their duty is to rule over your life rather than tend to the business of a city with less than 100k people. Almost every single thing the city manages is a failure. Every thing except their pension. They seem pretty competent in making sure that your grand kids will be paying for their retirement as they continue to rack up hundreds of millions in debt to pay for past liabilities. Past liabilities!
Fire every single one of these incompetent nincompoops. They are hired to manage the business of the city not to rule over us like overlords. They all need to be reminded of their actual duties. Start with a pink slip and a swift kick out the door and finish with a lifetime of shame. They deserve the ridicule and the pain.
FFS!! Open State Street!
I compost all my green waste, so I appreciate the compostable green veggie bags,
I agree that plastic bags HELP KEEP VEGGIES FROM WILTING!
What a joke.
I’m so embarrassed for the city Council.
We’re going to review all of this, yet continue to promote massive littering along the ocean with tens of thousands of micro confetti released for the fiestas, and on top of it not clean it up.
Zero consciousness, self reflection or integrity.
SB City would rather focus on things that don’t matter while everything deteriorates around us. Let’s not focus on any law-enforcement or basic common decency. lets talk plastic,
Unfortunately most of city council doesn’t legislate what’s best for Santa Barbara, they legislate what’s best for their reelection prospects.
Every time something like this comes up I see a lot of the same complaints directed at elected officials at the local, state, and sometimes even federal level. I’ve noticed that a lot of people find it very easy to complain yet very difficult to act. Stop acting like you can’t do anything. If you don’t like your elected officials, change them. If you don’t like the laws, change them.
It’s because people just look at whether there is a D or R next to the persons name rather than looking into their policies, voting records, and accomplishments in office. Our state legislatures approval rating is about 41%, yet their reelection rate is 94%. Worse on the federal level with a 15% approval rate and 95% reelection rate (source chatgpt). Crazy, and why I nearly always vote against the incumbent.
8oz water bottles? How many of those have you ever seen on the side of a road? I guess this is just to feel better about themselves passing a law that doesn’t do anything.