On December 3rd Save Our Shores staff members attended the Scotts Valley City Council meeting to provide support for the first reading of the polystyrene ban that Scotts Valley Public Works staff presented.  Polystyrene, commonly know as Styrofoam, is widely used in the food service industry and is also know to be a prevalent and dangerous type of marine debris.  This ordinance will amend existing municipal code to prohibit all local food service providers from using take out containers made from polystyrene or other non-recyclable or non-biodegradable materials.  The ordinance was crafted to closely resemble similar bans already in place in the City of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz County. 

Local residents, members of the Santa Cruz Surfrider Chapter and Chris Moran from the City of Santa Cruz Public Works Department were also in the crowd to support the measure.  The five member council seemed very excited about the proposed ban and appreciated all of the support and assistance offered by Save Our Shores and others in the audience.  Council is set to have a second reading of the ordinance during their December 17th meeting and is expected to pass the ban at that time. 

Once passed, food service providers will have a six month grace period to use up all existing polystyrene stock and come into compliance with the ban.  If businesses are found to still be using banned products after the six month grace period warnings will be given and fines can be assessed for continued failure to comply.

Save Our Shores is happy to see Scotts Valley join the growing list of local jurisdictions to take immediate action to combat marine debris.  If Scotts Valley's ordinance is passed, Watsonville will be the only jurisdiction within Santa Cruz County to allow usage of the problematic and pervasive material.   Save Our Shores will be monitoring the progress of the passage of this ordinance and will continue advocating for similar bans in all jurisdictions throughout the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

To get involved in this issue, attend the December 17th Scotts Valley City Council meeting and show your support for banning polystyrene.  The meeting begins at 6 pm and is held at Scotts Valley City Hall, One Civic Center Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066.  Or stay tuned for more information about the Monterey polystyrene ban currently in progress or future bans in other jurisdictions...