San Diego SDMC section 66.0701 et seq. bans food vendors and city facilities from using expanded polystyrene foam containers, cups, plates, trays, and coolers. Phase-in dates ended in 2019, and the ban is now full citywide.
SDMC chapter 6 article 6 division 7, the Plastics Reduction Ordinance adopted in 2018, prohibits any food provider in San Diego from selling, distributing, or using disposable expanded polystyrene (EPS) food service ware. Covered items include cups, plates, bowls, clamshells, trays, and coolers, plus retail sale of new EPS coolers, ice chests, packing peanuts, and dock floats. Small businesses received an extra year, but as of 2019 all retailers and restaurants must use compostable or recyclable alternatives. City departments and contractors are also barred from purchasing EPS. Environmental Services enforces with warnings, then escalating fines. The rule complements California Senate Bill 54 (Public Resources Code section 42041) packaging-reduction requirements.
Distributing or using banned EPS foam food ware violates SDMC section 66.0701 and triggers warnings, then administrative fines up to several hundred dollars per day from Environmental Services.
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