County supervisors are considering options for reducing the amount of single-use plastic in the local food industry.
While officials have an eye toward an eventual ordinance, an item for discussion on Oct. 15 is a study to gather information on the topic.
Supervisors Kuehl and Hahn are asking for a $50,000 contract with the UCLA Luskin Center to study single-use plastic food waste in the city. The study will look at the prevalence of plastics in the waste stream, the extent of recycling efforts, market analysis of plastic products, a comparison of alternative materials including challenges to adoption and the economic impact of single-use plastic.
“Los Angeles County generates a significant amount of waste from single-use plastic products, particularly food service ware such as clam shell containers, cups, bowls, plates, utensils, and straws,” said the sample motion. “These products are typically single-use and do not biodegrade, creating an intractable waste management problem as they accumulate in perpetuity either in landfills or as litter on streets and in our waterways.”
The motion includes a clause that would include mandatory outreach to various stakeholders within five months of the motion passing. The community outreach will discuss reducing the use of plastics that cannot be recycled, promoting reusable items, establishing definitions for recyclable and compostable material, develop a schedule to phase in changes and develop guidance for businesses if an ordinance passes.
While the County is concerned about environmental impacts, the motion also says economic changes have made the continued use of plastic a challenge.
“At the same time, disruptions to recycling markets, particularly China’s ‘National Sword’ policy, have made it increasingly difficult to recycle plastic waste,” said the motion. “Before China’s policy changed, the US exported approximately 70% of our total plastic waste to China. Since the advent of the “National Sword” policy, that amount has dropped by about half.”
The motion also says the accumulation of plastic is a health hazard with increasing danger to the food supply and that reducing the amount of single-use plastic would be in line with existing county environmental goals.
“It has been estimated that about 8% of the world’s oil production is used to make plastic, and that figure is projected to rise to about 20% by 2050,” said the motion. “Reducing our use of plastic products would therefore support a transition away from fossil fuels.”
Several local jurisdictions including Santa Monica, Calabasas, Culver City, Hermosa Beach, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Pasadena, South Pasadena, West Hollywood, and Long Beach have already adopted rules regarding the use of plastic.
The Board of Supervisors will meet on Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Hall of Administration, 500 West Temple Street. Meetings are available online at https://bos.lacounty.gov.
editor@smdp.com
