Santa Rosa will prohibit disposable utensils for dine-in customers starting next year

Restaurants in Santa Rosa are banned from offering disposable utensils for dine-in customers and can only provide plastic to-go containers and utensils on request, under a new City Council ordinance approved last week.

The Zero Waste Food Ware Ordinance approved at the council’s Aug. 3 meeting applies to all businesses within Santa Rosa city limits, including the city itself, starting in January 2022. The ordinance is the first passed under the city’s Zero Waste Master Plan, which would eventually shift the city to only use materials that can be reused or recycled.