LA County Takes a Stand: Banning Single-Use Plastics

In a significant move towards sustainability, parts of Los Angeles County have officially banned single-use plastics in restaurants. The ordinance, effective from May 1, requires full-service restaurants in unincorporated L.A. County to provide only recyclable or compostable food ware, including containers, cups, dishes, cutlery, and more.

Source: FOX 11 Los Angeles/Youtube

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed the ordinance in April 2022 to reduce waste and litter in communities and waterways while promoting sustainability efforts.

Critical aspects of the ordinance are as follows:

• For dine-in customers, full-service restaurants must use multi-service utensils (reusable food ware).
• Food facilities, such as restaurants, cafeterias, and food trucks located in unincorporated areas, are prohibited from providing single-use food ware accessories (straws, forks, condiment packets, napkins, etc.) to customers if requested.
• Online food-ordering businesses must include options for food facilities to offer single-use food ware accessories on their platforms, allowing customers to choose which supplements they want with their orders.
• Retail sale of products made from expanded polystyrene (also known as “Styrofoam”), including coolers, packaging materials, single-use articles, and pool toys, is prohibited unless the products are encased in a durable material.

Over the next two years, enforcement will be phased in for different vendors. Permanent-location eateries have one year to comply, food trucks have 18 months, and temporary food providers, such as farmers’ markets or community event organizers, have two years. Exemptions apply to street vendors and restaurants that can demonstrate extreme financial hardship or the inability to serve food products safely in alternative packaging.

The ordinance aims to phase out single-use plastics while working with restaurants to implement the switch seamlessly. After the first year, the County will evaluate whether additional measures are needed to Support businesses in reducing single-use waste. Violations may result in fines ranging from $100 per day per violation to a maximum of $1,000 per year.

With 85% of single-use plastic items in California not being recycled, this move is a significant step towards a more sustainable future. As a reader, you can Support this initiative by choosing eco-friendly alternatives and encouraging local businesses to switch to sustainable practices. Together, we can make a difference in preserving our planet for future generations.

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• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!