University of California, Davis
IN-32: Single-Use Plastic Ban

UC Davis, along with all other UC Campuses, has passed a ban on select single-use plastics. The policy is as follows:

1) The distribution of plastic bags is prohibited in all retail and foodservice establishments in campus facilities or located on University-owned land.

2) Single-use plastic dining accessories (e.g. straws, utensils, stirrers) will be replaced in all food service facilities with reusable or locally compostable alternatives by July 1, 2024, with exceptions for accessibility needs.

3) Dine-in and to-go facilities will provide reusable foodware items for food consumed onsite no later than July 1, 2024.

4) Replace single-use plastic food ware items with reusable or locally compostable alternatives at to-go facilities no later than July 1, 2024

5) Campus food service operations will phase out the purchase, sale and distribution of single-use plastic beverage bottles by Jan. 1, 2024. To support this change, UC locations are encouraged to install water refill stations.

6) When selecting prepackaged, sealed food that is mass-produced off-premises and resold at University locations (e.g., grab-and-go items, such as chips, candy, prepackaged sandwiches, etc.), preference should be given in contract award and negotiations to suppliers that utilize locally compostable or locally recyclable packaging options.

The single-use plastic ban begins on page 13 of the UC Sustainable Practices Policy (changes from 2022 may not yet be reflected in the published policy): https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/3100155/SustainablePractices

UC Davis progress on the policy outlined above:

UC Davis has removed single-use plastic bags from the ASUCD Coffee House, UC Davis stores, and all Dining Services eateries. In an effort to encourage the use of reusable food accessories, UC Davis Sustainability and Student Housing and Dining Services (SHDS) collaborated to run a reusable utensil campaign. The campaign included a survey to ascertain information from the campus community on attitudes and behaviors around reusable utensil sets and free utensil set giveaways.

Note about the UC Sustainable Practices Policy: The policy is continually updated and refined each year. Therefore, the policy linked above may not reflect the most up to date version of the policy.

For information on plastic bags: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-well-its-way-meeting-uc-wide-single-use-plastics-ban

Cora Ballek, student employee in the Sustainability office, assisted in compiling this credit response.