Santa Fe County Commissioners Enact Ordinance Limiting Single-Use Plastics
On March 26, 2014, Santa Fe County Commissioners unanimously passed the “Single-Use Plastic Product Ordinance,” effective October 2024. Single-use plastic bags and styrofoam containers will no longer be offered by retail establishments, with the exception that some restaurants may use their discretion for take-out foods with high liquid content. Paper bags may be offered for a fee set by the merchant. Plastic straws, utensils and condiment packets will be given upon request only, with an exception for establishments providing food both on-site or off-site with self-service stations in house. The ordinance applies to the County only. Two members of Beyond Plastics Santa Fe served on the yearlong committee to provide guidance to County Commissioners on possible inclusions, based on reviews of actions taken in cities and states around the nation. At the hearing, a few County Commissioners wondered why only plastic bags and styrofoam containers were singled out, and expressed concern about the widespread use of non-recyclable plastic packaging, with an eye towards exploring extended producer responsibility at the state level. |