SANTA CRUZ – With the latest passage of Measure C, Santa Cruz County officers are reminding residents and companies in unincorporated areas that a 25-cent single-use cup price shall be carried out on Friday, July 1.
The ordinance goals to encourage using clear and reusable beverage containers, in an effort to guard the environmental from the hostile results of single-use plastics, based on a launch from county spokesperson Jason Hoppin.
“Santa Cruz County is a frontrunner within the efforts to cut back the movement of plastics and different disposable merchandise into the atmosphere,” stated Supervisor Zach Buddy within the county launch. “This can be a common sense measure that ought to assist cut back the 5 million disposable cups which are thrown away annually in our county whereas elevating funds for important environmental clean-up applications in our space.”
The price was initially accredited by the County Board of Supervisors in late 2019, however implementation was delayed because of the security considerations and common operational impacts posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It should apply to unincorporated areas particularly, as cities throughout the county like Watsonville and Santa Cruz have beforehand carried out comparable charges of 10 cents and 25 cents, respectively.
Each everlasting and momentary companies the place drinks are served–together with meals vehicles and occasions–should implement the ordinance and save the receipts. Prospects could convey their very own reusable cups to those companies and retailers should settle for them except the container is cracked, chipped, corroded or seems inappropriate in dimension, materials or situation. The tax will seem individually on buyer receipts and can't be waived by sellers, based on the county launch.
Retailers will initially retain the price in full, however voter’s approval of Measure C will quickly change that calculus. Measure C permits the county to gather 12.5-cents (half) of the prevailing 25-cent ordinance as a common tax starting Jan. 1, 2023. The county estimates that the measure will increase roughly $700,000 yearly for common county tasks together with however not restricted to lowering air pollution, defending water high quality, stopping wildfires, addressing unlawful dumping and defending marine life.
Measure C was overwhelmingly accredited by county voters in June. As of Monday afternoon, there have been 51,266 votes in favor or 69.6% and 22,406 opposed or 30.4%.
County employees estimate that roughly 12 million single-use cups are used yearly by the county, based on a Sentinel report final 12 months.