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City staff report visits to nearly 3,000 businesses as Carlsbad implements SB 1383 and single‑use plastics rules
Summary
Environmental‑services staff told the subcommittee they visited about 2,930 businesses since 2022 to provide compliance assistance for SB 1383 organics and the city’s single‑use plastics ordinance, established a 'bin for business' grant and emphasized education‑first enforcement.
City staff reported extensive outreach and technical assistance to local businesses as part of Carlsbad’s sustainable materials management effort and compliance with state organics rules.
Avicida Jones, senior program manager in the city’s management division, said staff conducted roughly 2,930 business visits beginning in 2022 to explain SB 1383 organics requirements and the city’s single‑use plastics ordinance, document progress, and provide follow‑up guidance. Where necessary, staff requested 30‑day business plans describing how an establishment would achieve compliance; staff said extensions or targeted help were available for items that were temporarily out of stock.
Jones described a ‘bin for business’ grant program, funded by grant dollars, that provides sorting stations, recycling and compost bins and educational signage to qualifying businesses; she said about 65 businesses have taken advantage of that program. Staff also said they documented visits and communicated with CalRecycle as part of state reporting.
Matt Sanford, the city’s economic development director, summarized a small focus group of eight food‑service businesses that highlighted persistent challenges: limited local supply of certified compostable products, higher costs for alternatives, and customer confusion when containers or utensils differ from expectations. Sanford said staff are working with Republic Services and outside consultants to clarify acceptable certifications and update outreach materials.
Enforcement approach: Staff told the committee that the city differentiates between notice of noncompliance (city ordinance issues) and a notice of violation (administrative citation) required for SB 1383 reporting obligations to CalRecycle. Jones and other staff said the emphasis has been on education and individualized assistance; formal enforcement steps are used when businesses ignore repeated requests or fail to submit required compliance plans.
Next steps and resources: Staff said guidance, vendor lists and signage templates are available on the city website and that they will continue outreach and technical assistance as the state and federal packaging rules evolve. The committee thanked staff for the hands‑on work and asked for more data on transition costs and the composition of businesses engaged in outreach.
