Palos Verdes Moves To Eliminate Single-Use Foodware

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, CA — An ordinance regulating the use of single-use foodware accessories, such as plastic forks, spoons, straws and napkins, will go into effect in Rancho Palos Verdes starting Sept. 15.

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law in October 2021 that prohibited restaurants from handing out single-use foodware or standard condiments unless requested by a customer. The Palos Verdes City Council adopted the ordinance on Aug. 16.

"City Council finds this ordinance limits the use of dingle-use food accessories and standard condiments and will encourage both the reuse of materials and reduction of pollutants and solid waste and promotes the City's goals to reduce waste and conserve resources," a statement from the city read.

According to the city, Rancho Palos Verdes disposed of over 4,200 tons of waste in landfills in 2020 and Los Angeles County creates more than 31 million tons of waste each year. Though 65 percent of the waste is reused, recycled or diverted from landfills, approximately 85 percent of single-use plastic items are not recycled.

"Most recycling facilities in the LA region do not accept single- use plastic food service ware of any kind because of their size and contamination and there are no sustainable markets for recycled single-use plastics at this time," the statement read.

The new ordinance will phase to the automatic distribution of single-use foodware items and will also prevent food service providers from budling up single-use foodware items together, unless prepackaged by a manufacturer.

This will affect restaurants, street food vendors, cafes and coffee shops, gas stations as well as online food ordering platforms such as Uber Eats, DoorDash or Postmates. State-licensed facilities, such as health facilities, resdential care facilities, correctional institutions and school cafeterias , are exempt from the ordinance.

For more information visit the Code Enforcement Division website here.