TITLE
Recommendation to:
1. Request City Attorney to draft an ordinance related to banning the sale and distribution of expanded polystyrene and other polystyrene disposable food service containers within the City of Long Beach with exemptions for the Long Beach Unified School District;
2. Request City Manager, or designee, to work with the Office of Sustainability, the Sustainable City Commission and community stakeholders to develop a public education campaign related to the ban, which would include, but not be limited to:
a. Timeline for implementation,
b. List of Vendors who sell non-polystyrene products,
c. Website with all available information regarding the ban
and information about polystyrene,
d. Hotline for questions and concerns;
3. Request City Manager, or designee, to work with the Economic Development Committee of the City Council to come up with financial incentives for local businesses who implement the ban of these products before the implementation date of the ordinance;
4. This ordinance, education plan and incentive structure should return to the City Council for deliberation within 120 days; and
5. Upon approval, City Manager should provide an annual update regarding the ban to the Environmental Committee of the City Council.
DISCUSSION
Expanded Polystyrene is a common plastic used in food packaging and restaurant takeout items. According to the California Coastal Commission, polystyrene is the 2nd largest source of litter on California beaches.1 Polystyrene is especially harmful to the environment because it is not biodegradable and can last for hundreds of years in a landfill or in the ocean as floating debris.2 Over 65 cities in California have taken a proactive approach to curb this epidemic by banning the use of expanded polystyrene in the food service industry. These cities include Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, West Hollywood, Laguna Beach and Dana Point, to name a few.3 Citywide bans on polystyrene have been extremely successful throughout the state and nation in reducing the pollution of polystyrene. For example, the 2008 San Francisco Litter Audit revealed a 36% reduction in polystyrene litter since the ban was implemented in 20074 .
The City of Long Beach began exploring opportunities to ban expanded polystyrene through a Council Item presented by former Councilmember Frank Colona in 2005. 5 Over the course of the past eleven years, City staff has continuously identified polystyrene products as a "huge source of litter" and confirmed that it "is not easily recycled" within the City of Long Beach. Additionally, through a 2007 memo to the members of the City Council's Environmental Committee, city staff laid out a plan to implement a ban on polystyrene products and single use plastic bags. This plan included outreach and education to local businesses, creating a green designation program and banning the use of polystyrene at all municipal buildings and city events. Additionally, in 2011 the City of Long Beach passed a ban on single use plastic bags6 and supported SB 568 carried by then Senator Alan Lowenthal to ban polystyrene in the food industry statewide.
While the City of Long Beach's actions have stalled regarding polystyrene, several community groups have advocated and successfully worked with over two dozen small businesses and two national chains, McDonalds and Starbucks, to discontinue the use of polystyrene products. These local businesses include Berlin Bistro (District 1), Lola's Mexican Cuisine (District 2 and 8), Panama Joe's (District 3) and Crooked Duck (District 4) among others. These businesses are highlighted through the Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program. (See Attachment A).
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact is expected to be minimal at city facilities according to the 2007 City Staff Report provided to the Environmental Committee.
The financial impact to businesses is also expected to be minimal with most non- polystyrene products being competitively priced.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
JEANNINE PEARCE
COUNCIMEMBER, SECOND DISTRICT
ROBERTO URANGA
COUNCILMEMBER, SEVENTH DISTRICT