Ordinances restricting plastic product use being discussed in Watsonville
One of two Watsonville ordinances passed in full, targeting single-use plastic products in the city.
By 2020, hotels will be prohibited from using plastic toiletry bottles, similar to what the city of Santa Cruz passed in recent years.
That ordinance (Ordinance B) passed in full. A second ordinance (Ordinance A) prohibiting plastic straws at eateries is in need of an amendment so those with disabilities can still ask for a straw.
There was concern from some residents that those with disabilities would have to “prove” they had a disability to restaurant managers/servers in order to receive a straw.
One resident described one of their family members having such an experience before.
“I just want to ensure that a lot of the disabled community and my family members are protected,” they said.
The amendment regarding those with disabilities is set for discussion in the future, however the rest of the ordinance passed, according to Watsonville Assistant Public Works Director, Michelle Templeton.
A portion of Ordinance A would also charge 10 cents to customers taking a single-use “to-go” cup. Food service products that are compostable would also be required under Ordinance A.
Both of those portions of the ordinance would go into effect in 2021. The portion of Ordinance A regarding straws would go into effect the first day of next year.
The plastic toiletry product ban would go into effect for Ordinance B in 2020 as well.
During the council meeting this week, one resident said “We need to do this. Yes, it’s going to require some inconvenience, so what? We survived the transition of getting away from plastic bags, and we’ll survive this, too.”
Other Central Coast cities have made the move to restrict the use of plastics. Watsonville city leaders found some businesses in the city have also made the transition too.
“Approximately half of the businesses we talked to had moved away from compostables in one area or another,” says Templeton.
