We are just two weeks away from the June 1, 2023 compliance deadline for the City of Goleta’s new Plastic Free Goleta comprehensive plastic pollution reduction regulations. The ordinance became effective on August 12, 2022 but time was given to allow businesses, residents and visitors to prepare for the new requirements, which include a requirement for reusable foodware for businesses with dining on premises as well as prohibitions on:
- Disposable single-use plastic cutlery and straws
- Polystyrene foodware
- Polystyrene packing materials and coolers
- Polystyrene egg cartons, meat trays, and produce trays
- Release of latex and mylar balloons
- Sale and distribution of mylar balloons
- Distribution of single-use plastic beverage bottles at City facilities
To help with the transition to the new regulations, the City’s Sustainability Program released a Plastic Free Goleta guide in April, which is available on the City website in English and Spanish here. Sustainability staff are also available to provide presentations to community groups and help walk businesses through ways to comply with the new local environmental law.
What is the purpose of the new Plastic Free Goleta regulations?
The City’s plastic reduction regulations are designed to reduce the prevalence of single-use plastics and polystyrene pollution in Goleta. After all, protecting the environment is one of Goleta’s core values. Walking along the beach, you’ve probably encountered bits of Styrofoam© in the sand, plastic balloon strings entangling kelp, and plastic straws littering our environment. Following community input and informed by coastal and neighborhood cleanup data, the Goleta City Council took policy action to reduce single-use plastics, polystyrene (also known as Styrofoam©), and balloons from polluting our environment.
“Plastic Free Goleta” regulations are part of the City’s efforts to reduce waste by prohibiting the distribution and use of a variety of common single-use plastic items. It is estimated that there are over five trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean and that by 2050 plastic will outweigh fish in the ocean. Less single-use plastics being distributed and sold in our community will reduce plastic pollution litter in Goleta’s neighborhoods, waterways, and beaches.
We encourage the Goleta community to join us in going plastic free! To learn more about Goleta’s plastics initiatives, and to read the full ordinance, please visit www.cityofgoleta.org/PlasticFreeGoleta. To inquire about extension eligibility, please email sustainability@cityofgoleta.org using the subject line “Plastic Compliance.”
