Editor’s note: A previous version of this article omitted the sale and intentional release of lighter-than-air balloons, which the council also voted to ban.
After several months of discussion about what a potential reduction ordinance would look like, the Coronado City Council is ready to implement a law aimed at reducing plastic consumption.
The council agreed at its Dec. 3 meeting to ban the following: single-use carryout bags at grocery stores, retail stores, and food establishments; polystyrene foam take-out containers for food vendors and at city-affiliated events; and single-use utensils (with recyclable or compostable utensils available upon request only).
The council also approved requiring that food environments allow customers to bring their own reusable cups and banned the sale and intentional release of lighter-than-air balloons.
Council members opted against banning pre-checkout plastic bags — such as those used to bag produce or meat — because a state law will ban them starting on Jan. 1, 2025.
The Coronado Chamber of Commerce surveyed local businesses to assess how any potential bans would impact them. On a scale of one to five, with one indicating no preference, businesses said that a ban on polystyrene foam containers would carry the lowest impact, while prohibiting the sale of single-use water bottles would carry the highest. The council decided against the latter.
| Food service, grocery, retail, tourists | Professional, non-profit, individual, other | |
| Single-use plastic bags | 2.79 | 1.64 |
| Polystyrene foam products | 1.74 | 1.33 |
| Plastic utensils (with biodegradable or compostable options available upon request) | 2.42 | 1.71 |
| Other plastic items: straws, stirrers, balloons | 2.58 | 1.83 |
| Single-use plastic water bottles | 2.95 | 1.76 |
On a scale of one to five, with one indicating no preference and five having the most impact.
Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste finds its ways into the world’s oceans, harming wildlife and ecosystems. Scientists have also found microplastics in people, and are currently studying their health implications.
The ban, the council largely agreed, would help to alleviate some of the problem while still respecting businesses. Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey, however, questioned what policy objective the council was trying to achieve in its ordinance.
“I know we’re not going to change the entire world,” City Council Member and Mayor-Elect John Duncan said, “but we are a coastal community.”
Duncan brought the matter to the council via a Policy No. 2 request earlier this year.
The council opted against including stricter bans in its ordinance, including banning single-use water bottles and the purchase of balloons within city limits.
The council directed staff to draft an ordinance, which will tentatively come before the council for a first reading at the council’s Jan. 21 meeting, with a second reading occurring in February. The ordinance, if passed, would likely take effect in March.
Does this mean that mylar balloons are to be banned. Hopefully, yes! Laura’s comments above are succinct and to the point. Additionally, single use plastic bottles should carry a much higher CRV value due to the cost of clean up due to improper disposal.
This is great news! Finally. But why did the council reject the banning of balloons?
Balloons can have a devastating impact on marine life. When released balloons land in the ocean, they can be mistaken for food by marine animals such as sea turtles, dolphins, and whales, who can become entangled in the strings or ribbons attached to the balloons, which can lead to injury or death. Burst latex balloons can look similar to jellyfish, which are a favorite food of sea turtles.
This is cruel. Balloons are deadly, and there are so many great substitutes, so they’re unnecessary. As Duncan says, “We are a coastal community.” We live here because we love our beach and the ocean. Why wouldn’t we want to preserve it?
Hi Laura – there was an error in the first version of the article, which unintentionally omitted the vote on balloons. It’s been corrected. Sorry for the confusion!