The City of Los Angeles recently took another step to help the environment by reducing the amount of plastic used by Angelenos. Plastics are used in every aspect of our modern life, especially in the packaging of products we purchase every day.
In light of these concerns, Los Angeles has implemented a phased ban on certain plastic and styrofoam items. The city first implemented a single-use carryout plastic bag ban for all shops starting in July of 2023, with the ban initially impacting larger retailers first in January of 2023. It banned the use of plastic bags and instead encouraged the use of reusable bags and/or recyclable paper bags for 10 cents.
The most recent ban from the city concerned the use of expanded polystyrene (EPS) products, which are commonly known as the brand name, Styrofoam. All EPS products are prohibited, starting April 23rd, 2024. Some of the prohibited EPS products include cups, plates, egg cartons, packing peanuts, and single-use coolers and ice chests. LASAN instead suggests using cardboard or compostable plant fibers for more environmentally friendly disposable packaging options.
Over 97 cities and counties in California, including San Diego, have already enacted some form of a ban on expanded polystyrene (EPS), solidifying the state’s position as a leader in waste reduction.
The L.A. Sanitation and Environment’s (LASAN) Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program aims to significantly reduce disposable or single-use plastics in the city.
The program recognizes the fact that most plastic waste cannot be recycled due to lack of market demand and other factors. The lack of recycling leads to most plastic waste ending up in massive landfills. LASAN’s project aims to solve this issue by preventing plastics from ever getting to the stage of being waste. They state the following recycling facts on their website:
- “In 2021, food wrappers were the second most collected item during beach clean-ups conducted by the International Coastal Cleanup in California.”
- “In 2021, over 380,000 pounds of trash were collected as part of the International Coastal Cleanup Project in California.”
Strong concern about these incredibly large amounts of waste in our local environment led to these new bans. The City of Los Angeles is “committed to reducing plastic waste at its source.”
For more information, you can contact the L.A. Sanitation and Environment’s Solid Resources Citywide Recycling Division (SRCRD) directly by calling 213-485-2260 or emailing SRCRD@lacity.org.