In an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastic items, on April 5, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval to an ordinance requiring that any food containers, cups, plates and utensils served in restaurants and food handling establishments on county-owned property in L.A. County be recyclable or compostable.
Note: In the United States, counties are also called counties. The geographical area is generally larger than a city. A county includes several or even a dozen cities. Los Angeles County is also known as Los Angeles County, and the City of Los Angeles is part of the area within Los Angeles County.
The law also prohibits retail stores from selling "expanded polystyrene" (expanded polystyrene) or "polystyrene foam" (Styrofoam), including coolers, packaging materials, cups, plates and pool toys, unless these items are wrapped in "durable material" (durable material) to sell.
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors gives preliminary approval to ban single-use plastic items, such as plastic spoons, forks and cups, from the food service industry
The law also requires full-service restaurants that offer seating to provide customers with reusable tableware and plates. The County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to approve the proposed ordinance without discussion that day, with County Supervisor Kathryn Barger as the lone dissenter. The ordinance must still return to the County Board of Supervisors for a final vote, but no exact date has been set for the vote.
Subject to final approval by the County Board of Supervisors, the ordinance will take effect on May 1, 2023 and will apply to all food facilities and all retail stores operating in permanent locations.
For active food trucks, the decree will take effect on November 1, 2023.
Targeting farmers' markets, food service companies that provide in-home service, and temporary food facilities will go into effect on May 1, 2024.
Violators will then be subject to fines of up to $100 per day and $1,000 per year.
The ordinance was supported by various environmental groups who cited the impact of plastics on local and global waste streams, as well as on people's overall health.
CJ O'Brien of the environmental group Oceana told the county Board of Supervisors that billions of pounds of plastic waste enters the marine environment each year, and that number is expected to triple by 2040. She said marine animals are "being consumed or entangled in plastic," and noted that plastic is also becoming a health issue for humans. "Plastic is now being found in our water, food, air and bodies, and scientists are still (learning) how this might affect human health.
However, the decree was opposed by business groups. A representative of the Valley Industry and Commerce Association (VICA) told the county Board of Supervisors that there is no evidence that the ordinance will reduce litter, but it will certainly increase costs. For example, the cost of buying 100 compostable forks is equivalent to paying for 1,000 plastic forks.
And in recognition of the broad changes the ordinance will have on business operations, the County Board of Supervisors also approved a motion co-sponsored by County Supervisors Janice Hahn and Hilda Solis calling for the county to begin a year-long outreach and education campaign to implement the ordinance.
Through the education campaign, county officials will provide business owners with relevant education and compile a list of businesses that offer compostable/recyclable materials, while monitoring the supply chain for potential problems.
Jenny Han said she made the motion to ensure that she works with businesses. Want to make sure they are not overburdened and buy what they need to comply with the ordinance. "We want to help them and provide them with the tools they need." But she also acknowledged that the new crown (COVID-19) restrictions of the past two years have had a significant impact on restaurants, many of which have been forced to close, but said the new ordinance, which excludes plastic products from the waste stream, is important and necessary.
Created in 1852, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is considered the most powerful local government agency in the nation. The board oversees the county's $35 billion budget, as well as one of the largest jail systems and largest public health infrastructures in the country, and has extraordinary power over how those funds are spent.
