The Big One:

Comprehensive LA Laws to Reduce Single-Use Plastic

Los Angeles County

APRIL 2022 UPDATE:

“The Big One” passed in LA County! A big thank you to our community, who showed up by sending in over 9,000 emails and 250 public comments in support.

The ordinance will take effect on May 1, 2023 for eateries with permanent locations, November 1, 2023 for food trucks, and May 1, 2024 for temporary food facilities. To support businesses during the transition, restaurants that demonstrate financial hardship can apply for waivers from the ordinance requirements, and street vendors will be exempted.

This is the big piece of legislation that we’ve been pushing for. A good comprehensive foodware ordinance tackles plastic waste and pollution, while supporting LA restaurants as they make the switch to reusables. This policy eliminates single-use plastics at local restaurants in LA County unincorporated areas by:

  • Banning single-use food service ware (examples: utensils, plates, cups, etc) that is not compostable or recyclable.

  • Banning expanded polystyrene (example: styrofoam) products

  • Requiring reusables for full service, dine-in eateries.

How does this legislation support small restaurants and business owners?
The pandemic has been especially hard on small restaurants, and those demonstrating financial hardship can apply for exemptions. Street vendors will also be exempt.

For more information about the ordinance, see LA County’s FAQ.

How will enforcement work?
Eateries with permanent locations will have one year to reach compliance, food trucks will have eighteen months, and temporary food providers (like farmers markets or community event organizers) will have two years. Enforcement will initially be complaint-based, prioritizing education and working with businesses to transition to sustainable, takeout foodware. As a last resort, violations may be fined.

 

Graphics by LA County:

 

Los Angeles City

APRIL 2022 UPDATE:

LA City moves toward a plastic-free city! The City Council voted unanimously to move forward with the implementation of 14 different motions aimed at reducing plastic pollution. These laws will include phasing out single-use plastic at City facilities and events, an expanded polystyrene ban, and closing loopholes in the bag ban. Now, we have a roadmap to how the City will move forward to reduce plastic pollution and promote more sustainable practices over the next few years.

 

A Long Time Coming…

In 2019, we began working with Los Angeles County and City to draft and pass a comprehensive foodware ordinance, joining other governing bodies across the globe to do so.

Courtesy of Altadena Farmer’s Market

  • October 2019: LA County Board of Supervisors adopts a single use plastic food service ware motion and UCLA is commissioned to conduct a feasibility study.

  • December 2019: County holds first stakeholder workshop.

  • January 2020: County receives report from the UCLA Luskin School on the feasibility of a plastic reduction ordinance in LA County. The report supports the adoption of an ordinance.

  • February 2020: Reusable LA launches website and outreach efforts to help pass the ordinance in LA County.

  • March 2020: LA County Chief Office of Sustainability hosts stakeholder engagement workshops to determine the best regulatory tools to include in the ordinance.

  • April 2020: LA County places an indefinite pause on comprehensive ordinance progress due to COVID-19.

  • January 2021: LA County and City pivot to foodware accessories upon request legislation, to support restaurants during COVID-19 and address the rise in single-use takeout waste. Reusable LA launches our #SkipTheStuff campaign to support.

  • April 2021: #SkipTheStuff foodware accessories law passes in LA City!

  • June 2021: A weaker foodware accessories law passes in LA County.

  • January 2022: LA County and City resume process of drafting and passing comprehensive plastic foodware ordinance.

  • April 2022: LA County passes The Big One, a comprehensive plastic foodware ordinance! LA City moves forward with 14 motions aimed at reducing plastic pollution.

  • May 2023: Ordinance in effect for eateries with permanent locations in LA County unincorporated areas.

  • November 2023: Ordinance in effect for food trucks in LA County unincorporated areas.

  • May 2024: Ordinance in effect for temporary food facilities, like farmers markets or events, in LA County unincorporated areas.