In The News
City Council approves Styrofoam ban in restaurants
Move a 'no-brainer ' councilmember says; restaurant owner sees positive reaction from patrons
Thursday March 26, 2009
By By Jon Chown of the Register-Pajaronian
The Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, March 25, 2009
The Watsonville Register-Pajaronian, March 25, 2009
City Council approves Styrofoam ban in restaurants
Move a 'no-brainer ' councilmember says; restaurant owner sees positive reaction from patrons
Move a 'no-brainer ' councilmember says; restaurant owner sees positive reaction from patrons
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Watsonville's restaurants and retail food outlets have seven months to stop using Styrofoam after the City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday to prohibit the use of polystyrene foam containers for prepared food within the city limits.
Polystyrene foam is the only type of plastic that can't be recycled in the Monterey Bay area. Facilities do exist in the state, but transporting the plastic foam isn't a viable option due to the cost and the fact that it ends up in the landfill. Polystyrene is also a significant pollutant in the bay. The California Coastal Commission has estimated that more than 1 million seabirds, 100,000 marine mammals and countless fish die each year from ingesting polystyrene .
"It's about time we did this," City Councilmember Emilio Martinez said before the vote. "It's a no-brainer . I've been fishing the bay for 40 years and I've seen how the garbage has affected it, how the otters have been affected by all this plastic . It's unbelievable."
The issue was brought before the council at the behest of Councilmember Luis Alejo.
"We need to try to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill, especially that which doesn't break down well," Alejo said. "This also impacts our wildlife; it puts more waste in the Monterey Bay. You'd be amazed at what an impact it has."
Watsonville is one of the last major municipalities on the Monterey Bay to ban the product . Santa Cruz County and the cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola, Scotts Valley and Monterey have all banned polystyrene. Additionally , restaurants in Watsonville have already stopped using it.
Stella Romo, owner of Jalisco Restaurant in downtown Watsonville, said she stopped using Styrofoam in her restaurant more than a year ago for environmental reasons, but was surprised how appreciative the customers were.
"A lot of customers tell my wait staff they appreciate it," Romo said. "I just know how bad Stryofoam is and wanted to do my part in protecting the environment."
Romo now uses a heavy cardboard-like substitute, and her customers have been happy about it, she said.
The ordinance passed by unaminous vote. It will go into effect in 30 days, and then a sixmonth probationary period will start so that businesses with a large supply of polystyrene products can use them up and not incur the extra cost of having to dump packaging materials that they had already paid for.
Move a 'no-brainer ' councilmember says; restaurant owner sees positive reaction from patrons
| ||||
Watsonville's restaurants and retail food outlets have seven months to stop using Styrofoam after the City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday to prohibit the use of polystyrene foam containers for prepared food within the city limits.
Polystyrene foam is the only type of plastic that can't be recycled in the Monterey Bay area. Facilities do exist in the state, but transporting the plastic foam isn't a viable option due to the cost and the fact that it ends up in the landfill. Polystyrene is also a significant pollutant in the bay. The California Coastal Commission has estimated that more than 1 million seabirds, 100,000 marine mammals and countless fish die each year from ingesting polystyrene .
"It's about time we did this," City Councilmember Emilio Martinez said before the vote. "It's a no-brainer . I've been fishing the bay for 40 years and I've seen how the garbage has affected it, how the otters have been affected by all this plastic . It's unbelievable."
The issue was brought before the council at the behest of Councilmember Luis Alejo.
"We need to try to divert as much waste as possible from the landfill, especially that which doesn't break down well," Alejo said. "This also impacts our wildlife; it puts more waste in the Monterey Bay. You'd be amazed at what an impact it has."
Watsonville is one of the last major municipalities on the Monterey Bay to ban the product . Santa Cruz County and the cities of Santa Cruz, Capitola, Scotts Valley and Monterey have all banned polystyrene. Additionally , restaurants in Watsonville have already stopped using it.
Stella Romo, owner of Jalisco Restaurant in downtown Watsonville, said she stopped using Styrofoam in her restaurant more than a year ago for environmental reasons, but was surprised how appreciative the customers were.
"A lot of customers tell my wait staff they appreciate it," Romo said. "I just know how bad Stryofoam is and wanted to do my part in protecting the environment."
Romo now uses a heavy cardboard-like substitute, and her customers have been happy about it, she said.
The ordinance passed by unaminous vote. It will go into effect in 30 days, and then a sixmonth probationary period will start so that businesses with a large supply of polystyrene products can use them up and not incur the extra cost of having to dump packaging materials that they had already paid for.