SAN MARCOS PLANS PLASTICS BAN
City would become 7th in county to block single-use utensils and containers
Foam products and single-use plastic utensils and containers will be banned in San Marcos under an ordinance introduced by the City Council today.
The new prohibition would be phased in over two years beginning next summer and is intended to reduce litter on local land and in the ocean and to reduce the amount of waste placed in landfills. San Marcos is the latest city to adopt such a ban. Vista approved its ordinance last June. Similar bans have been adopted in Encinitas, Del Mar, Imperial Beach, San Diego and Solana Beach.
City Council members unanimously supported the proposed ordinance, which requires a second reading at a future meeting to be adopted.
The first phase of the prohibition would begin next July and would ban the sale, distribution and use of plastic, disposable utensils such as straws, forks, spoons, knives, stir sticks or anything used to eat food. The ban would apply to city facilities, city events and food providers such as restaurants, drive-thru eateries, convenience stores, grocery stores, delis, supermarkets, farmers markets and food trucks.
Food providers will be allowed to provide disposable utensils that are non-plastic and either recyclable or compostable, meaning they are made of fiber-based material that will break down into compost. The items would be provided upon request by a customer or at self-serve stations.
San Marcos management analyst Sean Harris said the July date was picked because research by city staff members found businesses would need about six months to exhaust their supplies of products that will be banned and to find alternative products either from a new supplier or their current one.
Beginning July 2023, the prohibition would include the sale, distribution and use of plastic, disposable food service ware such as plates, cups, bowls, wrappers or anything used to carry or hold food.
The third phase would begin in January 2024 and would prohibit materials made with expanded