OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Oceanside restaurants and businesses are now banned from distributing single-use products with polystyrene foam also known as styrofoam. The ban is part of the city's Marine Debris Reduction Ordinance.
Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Policy Manager Mitch Silverstein told CBS 8 that polystyrene foam can be found in a variety of items.
“You see it in a lot of food ware, cold drinks, packing peanuts…those foam coolers. All those things become really really bad in terms of trash and pollution on our beaches, on our streets and in the ocean,” Silverstein said.
Businesses that used Styrofoam products will need to find recyclable, compostable or reusable alternatives to replace them. Silverstein explains that this ban will especially impact local businesses in the city.
“A mom and pop business rather than a corporate Chick-fil-A or something, they're looking for the cheapest take-out items and the cheapest take out items are Styrofoam,” Silverstein said.
Enforcement for the ordinance will mainly be complaint-based, meaning people will need to report non-compliant businesses to the city.
“This isn't about making money or taxing people, it's about education and the city will send several educational notices and warnings before any kind of punitive measures are considered,” Silverstein said.
The second phase of the ordinance will go into effect in January 2025, it's a ban on single-use plastic bags. Businesses that choose to provide bags will need to charge at least ten cents for a reusable or recyclable bag.
For more information on the ‘Marine Debris Reduction Ordinance,’ visit oceanside.ca.
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