The new sustainability packaging ordinance requiring food service providers to start full compliance by January 2021 has been extended due to the pandemic.
DEADLINE FOR CITY ORDINANCE REQUIRING DISPOSABLE PLATES/CUPS/UTENSILS TO BE COMPOSTABLES EXTENDED
The new sustainability packaging ordinance (Municipal Code Section 6-6.100) that was approved by City Council in 2019 originally required food service providers to start full compliance by January 2021. This would mean that, among other requirements, businesses that offer or sell food and beverages are required to use only BPI-certified compostable food-service products ( disposable containers, cups, utensils, etc.) for both take-out and dine-in. However, due to the pandemic, a few schedule adjustments have been made to help your business be in compliance:
Voluntary compliance by July 1st, 2021. If your business is already using compostables or switches to certified compostables by then, you will be featured in all of our communications platforms for two weeks t increase your business promotion.
Mandatory compliance by January 1st, 2022:
- All disposable food-service ware must be compostable and must include the BPI compostable logo (as defined by ASTM standards).
- Self-bussing food service vendors must provide three color-coded bins clearly labeled for food scraps + compostables (green), recyclables (blue), and garbage (black). This is also a State mandate AB 827 effective July 1, 2020.
- You are required to charge customers $0.10 for single-use cups. This city ordinance went into effect last January, but was paused due to covid-19 safety precautions and will be reinstated on January 1st, 2022.
- Please remember that this ordinance also prohibits the use and distribution of plastic straws unless specifically requested, a rule which has been in effect since January 2020.
For detailed information on this ordinance and for a list of vendors providing certified compostable food service ware, please visit: cityofwatsonville.org/wastereductionordinance. Our team is readily available to answer your questions and offer additional support. For questions, please call 768-3131 or email Hilda Peralta at hilda.peralta@cityofwatsonville.org.