TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to send a letter of support for SB 705, The Ocean Pollution Reduction Act.
DISCUSSION
Expanded Polystyrene is a form of plastic commonly used in food packaging and restaurant takeout items. It has been observed that plastic food service containers are a major factor of urban litter and more than often end up in our waterways and oceans, where they break down and release harmful toxins. In addition, marine life is known to consume small polystyrene particles, which may cause adverse effects to our own health and well-being. Workers involved with Styrene are also exposed to increase health risks such as leukemia, lymphoma, and damage to the nervous system.
This growing problem effects California's $43 billion ocean-dependent sector of the economy. According to the California Coastal Commission, polystyrene is the 2nct largest source of litter on California beaches and the Ocean Protection Council estimates that the current cost of cleaning up marine debris annually reaches $1 billion.
On December 20, 2016, the City of Long Beach took a progressive approach to tackle this issue and has begun the process to adopt its own ordinance to prohibit the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene. Additionally, in 2011 the City of Long Beach supported SB 568 authored by then Senator Alan Lowenthal, to ban polystyrene in the food industry statewide.
SB 705 provides an effective statewide solution to reduce the amount of expanded polystyrene in our streets, waterways, beaches, and oceans.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact at this time.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
JEANNINE PEARCE
COUNCILMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER