In January 2024, the City of Carpinteria repealed and replaced a chapter of its Municipal Code related to the regulation of certain polystyrene and single-use plastic items.
The revisions focused on policies regarding polystyrene products, food service ware and condiments, definitions for “compostable” and “recyclable,” reusable foodware and mylar and latex balloons. These changes aim to align with state regulations and further the City’s efforts to reduce landfill waste. Before bringing these changes to City Council, the City gathered input from the community on the proposed policy changes.
Recognizing these changes largely affect businesses, the City conducted outreach to local businesses to educate them on the updated regulations they need to comply with from January 2024 through June 2024. The City continues providing ongoing outreach to businesses and has a dedicated webpage with resources, FAQs and more.
The staff report was written by Erin Maker, Environmental Program Manager.
“The City Council Council has been forward-thinking in their effort to divert single-use materials from the landfill, and our latest ordinance shows our commitment to complying with State requirements,” said Erica. “With any new legislation, it is important to give the community time to understand the changes and provide extensive education before starting enforcement. We are asking our community to create a new habit, and that takes time. We want to ensure our businesses are set up for success so our entire community can experience the long-term environmental benefits of this ordinance change.”
The state requires agencies to notify residents and businesses of new or revised ordinances within 15 days of adoption. To view Carpinteria’s staff report and more information and examples about notifications for local ordinance changes, check out this LINK article.
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