San Diego moved forward with a ban on polystyrene foam products, returning a single-use waste policy to the public agenda.
Expanded polystyrene is lightweight, breaks into small pieces and is difficult to recover through ordinary curbside recycling. Restrictions generally shift food service and retail uses toward reusable, recyclable or compostable alternatives.
The environmental goal was straightforward, but implementation required outreach and time for businesses to change purchasing. Enforcement would determine whether the rule produced a meaningful reduction in litter.