Feb 26 - Watsonville Adopts Ordinance to Strengthen EPS Ban

In an effort to eliminate additional polystyrene foam waste from their city, the city council of Watsonville voted on 2/25/2014 to amend their original ordinance regarding Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) to include a greater range of plastics in the ban.

In the original ordinance, retail food establishments were required to provide recyclable or compostable service ware and prohibited from using foam foodware. In the new ordinance, the ban will be not only on EPS take out packaging in food service establishments, but also on the retail sale of EPS cups, plates, bowls, clamshells, coolers, containers, ice chests, shipping boxes, pool or beach toys, packing peanuts or other packaging materials.

The ordinance will go into effect 30 days after the adoption, or on March 25 2014. Watsonville has shown that it is willing to take the extra step to keep the city plastic free. The new ordinance is similar to ones passed in Santa Cruz, Capitola, Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Ojai, and Richmond as well as Santa Cruz County.