Jul 26 - Santa Cruz City Bans Plastic Bags and Foam Products

Last Tuesday the Santa Cruz City Council took final steps towards adopting two strong ordinances against plastic pollution.

The Council had previously approved the introductions of a plastic carryout bag ban and a ban on the sale of foamed polystyrene products on July 10.

With this formal adoption, the City continues to take a progressive stance against plastic pollution and waste.

It becomes the 51st city or county in our state with a plastic bag ban. The bag ban is effective April 10, 2013 in all retail stores. Paper bags may be sold for ten cents each.

Santa Cruz is also now one of the few cities in the country to ban the sale of all foam products, including disposable drink coolers and packaging peanuts.

Kudos to Santa Cruz for their environmental leadership against plastic waste and its many detrimental impacts.

AB 298 (Brownley) and SB 568 (Lowenthal) would ban plastic bags and foamed polystyrene food containers statewide. Take action and support AB 298 and SB 568.