Solana Beach food-service businesses will need to ditch plant-based plastics marketed as "compostable" under an updated ordinance the City Council approved unanimously on Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Ordinance 541 amends Solana Beach Municipal Code Chapter 5.03 to require that all compostable food-service materials be compatible with EDCO's anaerobic digester, the facility where the city's organic waste is processed, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The vote was a first reading. A second reading is scheduled for the Wednesday, Oct. 14 council meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 635 S. Highway 101.

The practical effect: items such as corn-starch or potato-starch containers, labeled Number 7 plastics, would be banned because EDCO cannot recycle or compost them. Permitted materials include paper containers and straws not coated in plastic, along with untreated wood or bamboo products.

A council agenda report noted that some bioplastics marketed as "compostable" actually contaminate EDCO's digester, which converts organic waste into renewable natural gas and fertilizer.

The city's own organics recycling page already warns residents not to put bioplastic bags or food-service ware in their green bins.

Multiple residents spoke in favor of the ordinance at the Sept. 30 hearing. Janis Jones, plastic pollution program lead for the Surfrider Foundation's San Diego chapter, cited studies of plastics found in the stomachs of local seabirds.

"It's horrifying and illustrates why we need to do more to reduce single-use plastics and address the growing problem of microplastics," Jones said.

Councilmember Dave Zito said he was happy the city is continuing to evolve and adapt to what he called the necessary changes.

Along with Ordinance 541, the council adopted Resolution 2026-103 urging the state of California to address microplastics concerns. The Sept. 30 agenda also listed the city's support for AB 762, a bill that would prohibit single-use vaping devices.

Mayor Lesa Heebner went further, mentioning the city is exploring restrictions on the sale of plastic vape pens, cigarettes with plastic filters and the use of synthetic turf, according to the Union-Tribune.

Del Mar, Carlsbad and Coronado have adopted similar single-use plastics ordinances. Del Mar's expanded ban took effect Feb. 6, covering non-compostable food-service ware and single-use plastic beverage bottles at city facilities and city-sponsored events.

Residents who want to weigh in before the second reading can attend the Wednesday, Oct. 14 meeting or submit written comments through the city's ordinance update page.