How are other California cities reducing single use plastic food ware?
By Nancy Sanchez
Approximately 4.7% of Santa Monica’s greenhouse gas emissions come from landfill waste. In Santa Monica and throughout California, the movement to reduce waste and carbon emissions from single-use plastics is gaining momentum.
Senate Bill 54 requires that by 2032, all packaging in California needs to be recyclable or compostable. Plastic production would be reduced by 25%, and 65% of packaging would need to be recycled after use.
In Oakland, five hundred businesses are switching to reusables through programs like ReThink Disposable. This program helps restaurants find the best strategy for them and provides education and grant opportunities. In LA County they are moving forward to eliminate single-use plastics at local restaurants through 1) Banning single-use food service ware (examples: utensils, plates, cups, etc) that aren’t compostable or recyclable, 2) Banning expanded polystyrene (example: styrofoam) products, 3) Requiring reusables for full service, dine-in eateries (reusablela). The legislation will help small businesses while permanent eateries will have 1 year to reach compliance. Reusable LA shows how support for restaurants can help encourage the switch. CASM sees reusables as a critical climate strategy throughout our community and economy.
As a leader in sustainability and as an ocean community, Santa Monica adopted waste ordinances that also protect marine ecosystems and clean water. Acknowledging that littered plastic foodware harms Santa Monica’s coastal environment, we adopted ordinances that promote marine degradable food service ware. We also have rules to eliminate single-use carry-out bags and provisions for reducing the amount of waste that comes with foods ordered online. Specifically, Santa Monica requires that food service ware be requested when ordering online. Delivery companies such as Doordash and Uber Eats need to make it easier to request foodware, and also make it clear on the app that these will not be provided unless requested. Since bio-plastics are NOT marine-degradable, they are not permitted under the Santa Monica ordinance. Exemptions exist for beverage cup lids at this time. However, with many new options now available, we hope that can soon be changed. Fines are possible for restaurants that do not comply. There are also exemptions for hardship.
CASM conducted a study analyzing the foodware provided by fast-food chain restaurants during food delivery. We found that many complied partially, and a few hardly followed the local ordinances. We are hoping all local restaurants can become heroes for zero waste. CASM is working on outreach to notify local Santa Monica food establishments of changes they can make to their foodware to become heroes and we encourage more local enforcement.
What actions can you take? How can you help?
You can join CASM’s restaurant outreach volunteers. We want people willing to talk to restaurants as customers interested in seeing those establishments commit to a more climate-friendly waste reduction strategy. If you are interested, contact .
Articles used:
https://oaklandnorth.net/2023/11/30/oakland-city-council-considers-banning-plastic-plates-cups-forks
This large California city is poised to ban single-use plastics (msn.com)
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