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 polystyr...
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