Single-use materials from food and beverages make up approximately 25% of the waste produced in California. Cups, straws, containers, condiments and other food-related items made with plastic and expanded polystyrene do not break down, litter our community, and cause harm to our local lagoons, ocean and wildlife. 

Offering these items only when requested, offering reusable items and only offering certified compostable single-use foodware items will reduce waste and save businesses money. These actions will also:

• Keeps 1,196 tons of these materials out of the landfill each year
• Reduces Carlsbad’s overall waste stream by 3%
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 0.73%, which is the equivalent of 369 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or 6,101 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.

1. A restaurant, café, coffee shop, fast-food restaurant, drive-through service, grocery store, supermarket, convenience store, delicatessen, cafeteria, farmers’ market vendor, or similar facility where prepared food is available for consumption on or off the premises.
2. Any mobile food facility, mobile food vendor, catering operation, food truck or temporary food facility that provides prepared food.
3. Transient lodging facilities, including hotels, motels, and bed and breakfasts that provide prepared food, regardless of whether the prepared food is complimentary or available for purchase by the consumer.
4. Entities specified in California Health and Safety Code Sections 113789(a) and 113789(b).

• “Foodware” items used for containing, serving or consuming prepared food, including containers, cups, bowls, plates, trays, cartons, boxes and foodware accessories.
• “Foodware accessory” items, including utensils (e.g., forks, knives, spoons and sporks), straws, stirrers, condiment cups and packets, cup lids, cup sleeves, cocktail sticks, toothpicks, splash sticks, spill plugs and other similar accessory items used as part of or alongside prepared food.

Best practices when making purchasing decisions:

• Replace single-use items with reusable products. 
• Reduce and avoid the use of unnecessary items.
• Seek certified compostable options.
• Look for recycled content. This reduces pressure on natural resources.
• Choose chemical-free, local and marine-degradable products.

• Reduce your (negative) impact on the environment
• Reduce your packaging and product costs
• Lower your waste collection costs in the short and long term
• Tap into the sustainability market
• Foster customer recognition and loyalty
• Improve and protect your bottom line
• Ensure compliance with local and state regulations
• Be a sustainability champion

Assembly Bill (AB) 1276 - Single-Use Foodware Accessories and Standard Condiments

• Assembly Bill 1276 is a California state law, sometimes referred to as “Skip the Stuff,” that requires food establishments to provide food and beverage accessories only upon request and use only reusable foodware for on-site dining. This law has been in effect since January 2022.

Carlsbad Municipal Code CS-447 Chapter 6.20 Phased-In Single Use Plastic Foodware Ban

• This is a local ordinance that prohibits the use and distribution of any polystyrene (Styrofoam) and single-use plastic foodware from food establishments and recommends their replacement with reusable, marine degradable or compostable alternatives in Carlsbad. This municipal ordinance took effect in July 2023.

Implementation plan
Other sustainability initiatives
Business resources
Single-use plastics ban solutions manual & product list