Council OKs ban on non-compostable single-use foodware accessory items in WeHo

West Hollywood’s City Council moved forward Tuesday with a proposal to ban all providers of prepared food and beverages from giving away non-compostable single-use foodware accessory items such as plastic straws, utensils, containers, lids, cups, and any other single-use dinnerware items.

City staff presented councilmembers with a notably thorough study on the new policy and its potential ramifications. Last year, staff members were criticized for underwhelming business outreach efforts in advance of the minimum wage increase proposal.

This time, city staff’s research and the feedback they received from local businesses yielded valuable data and identified several obstacles to implementation.

Access to the environmentally friendly products that will replace traditional non-compostable single-use foodware accessory plastic items is limited at present, staff reported. Most are manufactured internationally and are therefore affected by supply chain issues currently plaguing the globe. While straws and cutlery are widely available, items such as hot cups and lids are in short supply.

A survey of local businesses showed that a vast majority oppose the ordinance as written. They feel that state laws governing single-use plastics are already sufficient.

The proposal would move violations of the ordinance into the Schedule C category, where fines can reach $1,000 after a written warning has first been issued.

Two likely candidates in the upcoming WeHo City Council elections spoke publicly on the issue. “Addressing plastic waste is imperative,” said Marquita Thomas, “And WeHo has led the way. But environmental policies are only effective if they’re practical.”

Thomas, the executive director of the Los Angeles LGBT Chamber of Commerce and a member of WeHo’s Planning Commission, advocated for more time for the transition. Zekiah Wright, a local attorney and a member of WeHo’s Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board, said the ban on single-use plastics was a good start, but that much more needed to be done.

“Our city should use its ingenuity to find ways to hold these larger corporations accountable,” Wright said. “I’m thankful and excited but I’m hoping we continue to push the envelope.’

City Council unanimously approved the proposal with two amendments. First, the implementation deadline for large businesses was moved from June 1, 2023, to January 1, 2023. Second, the list of items was clarified to include:

· Plates

· Napkins

· Cup lids

· Cup sleeves

· Food or beverage trays

· Condiment packets and saucers

· Spill Plugs

· Toothpicks

Access to the environmentally friendly products that will replace traditional plastic items is limited at present, staff reported. Most are manufactured internationally and are therefore affected by supply chain issues currently plaguing the globe. While straws and cutlery are widely available, items such as hot cups and lids are in short supply.

A survey of local businesses showed that a vast majority oppose the ordinance as written. They don’t think enough time to transition to the new policies has been allotted, and they feel that state laws governing single-use plastics are already sufficient.

The proposal would move violations of the ordinance into the Schedule C category, where fines can reach as high as $1,000.