Ban On Plastic Bottles, Balloons And Smoking Considered In Culver City

CULVER CITY, CA — City officials are considering doubling down on environmentally conscious policies, including bans on everything from plastic drink bottles to astroturf.

The city will soon begin surveying residents and business owners to gauge interest on prohibiting single-use plastic carryout bags, single-use plastic beverage bottles, the use and sale of balloons, public smoking and the use of astroturf, according to city officials.

The effort stems from an April proposal by Ballona Creek Renaissance, which lobbied the City Council to consider a so-called "4B ban" — balloons, carryout bags, beverage bottles and smoking ("butts").

The group said that those items make up close to 40 percent of the debris collected from waterways during coastal cleanup events.

The City Council has not taken action on the proposal: Following outreach, a subcommittee will consider feedback submitted by the community before moving forward with any proposal.

A survey will be distributed to the community online in the coming weeks.

Current city regulations prohibit plastic water bottles in city facilities and at city events. Additionally, styrofoam and single-use plastic straws and food containers are also prohibited.