City Ban On Single-Use Plastics

1. Overview

Plastic straws, utensils, stirrer sticks, drink plugs, and other disposable plastic items are no longer allowed in Culver City.  

The City of Culver City adopted Chapter 5.07, Waste Reduction Regulations to protect the community's waterways and to promote reuse and waste reduction. The ordinance builds on the environmental benefit efforts mandated in chapter 11.18 Polystyrene Regulations. 

2. What is Banned?

Distribution of polystyrene food service ware and retail of polystyrene coolers are banned products in Culver City. The City also has an Upon Request Policy" meaning "No food provider may provide cutlery to any person taking prepared food away from the food provider's premise unless food provider first ask person whether they want to receive and they respond that they do". 

Polystyrene products may be unidentified or be identified by a No. 6 with three chasing arrows that form a triangle.

636186037532570000.jpeg

636186037528500000.jpeg(allowed to be sold in stores until 1/1/23)

 636186037524270000.jpeg

 

Effective January 1, 2022 the following items shall no longer be used, sold, or be distributed within Culver City:

Plastic Straws.jpg Plastic Straws 

Plastic Utensils.jpg Plastic Utensils 

Utensils are PLA.jpgPLA #7 Utensils 

Plastic Stirrer Sticks.jpg Plastic and PLA Stirrers, Lid Plugs 

Disposable food service ware for take-out or delivery must be acceptable to the City's organics collection program. However, foil to contain and/or form the food item being served is acceptable.

Plastic Cup and Straws.jpg Plastic To-Go Service Ware

Plastic Container.jpg Plastic To-Go Service Ware

Cup made from PLA.jpgPLA To-Go Service Ware

(PLA is NOT compostable and/or recyclable in Culver City's collection program).

Polystyrene Meat Tray.jpg Polystyrene Meat, Poultry, Vegetable Trays

 Polystyrene Egg Carton.jpg Polystyrene Egg Cartons 

 Foam Packing Peanuts.jpg Polystyrene Packing Peanuts

 Foam Packing Materials.jpgPolystyrene Foam Blocks 

3.  What is Acceptable?

Reusable-Metal-Stainless-Steel-Wide-Smoothie-Straws.jpg bambu_bamboo_straws_056570_grande.jpgglass straws.jpgpaperStraw.jpg Non-Plastic/PLA Straws 

 Wood Stirrer Stick.jpg Non-Plastic/PLA Stirrers

hotCups.jpg Compostable Cups 

compostable-sugarcane-burrito-bowl-lg-BBO-32.jpg dahlia-bowl.jpgCompostable Containers 

Compostable Food Service Ware.jpg   Compostable Containers

  • Effective January 1, 2023, only reusable food service ware will be allowed for on-premises dining. 

Reusable Food Service Ware.jpg

  • Effective January 1, 2023, the retail selling of polystyrene food service ware will not be allowed in Culver City. 

636186037532570000.jpeg

4. Helpful Resources

Alternative Product Resources

The following firms and alternative food ware products are provided for your convenience.  Their inclusion does not imply that the firms or the alternative food ware products they sell are endorsed by the City.

Suppliers of alternative food ware products are listed below. 

A list of additional alternative manufacturers and distributors.

Ordinances

Press Release

Educational Video

  • Then check out Culver City's very own Polystyrene Ban Video:

 

Fact Sheets and Brochures

636325417931970000.jpeg  Polystyrene Regulations Fact Sheet(PDF, 2MB) Fact Sheets

Waste Reduction Regulations Implementation Phases Fact Sheet.png(PDF, 1MB)Waste Reduction Regulations Fact Sheet(PDF, 1MB)

Single Use Plastics Brochure Image(PDF, 10MB)Waste Reduction Regulations Brochure(PDF, 10MB)

5. FAQ's

What is banned?

  • The citywide sale of polystyrene foam food containers such as cups, bowls, plates, and clamshell containers in addition to foam coolers that are not encased in another material (however, these items may be sold by City retailers until 1/1/2023).
  • Culver City retailers are prohibited from selling foam coolers not encased in other material and all single-use polystyrene foam.
  • Effective January 1, 2022, the citywide sale of polystyrene meat, poultry, fish and vegetable trays and egg cartons.
  • Effective January 1, 2022, take-out and delivery no plastic and PLA food containers such as cups, bowls, plates, and clamshell containers should be used.
  • Effective January 1, 2022, plastic and PLA straws, stirrers, lid plugs are banned.
  • Effective January 1, 2022, the sale or use of polystyrene packing materials used in shipping containers.
  • Effective January 1, 2023, the use of disposable food service ware for dine in premises. 
  • Effective January 1, 2023, the citywide use/sale of single-use polystyrene plastic food containers such as cups, bowls, plates, clamshell containers, cutlery, straws, and cup lids.

What is NOT banned?

  • All unprepared food using polystyrene food ware may be sold by City retailers and prepared food providers (example: Cup of Noodles-Ramen).
  • Food brought by individuals for personal consumption to City facilities including City parks, provided the City facility is being used for individual recreation and the person’s use of the City facility is not part of an event requiring a rental agreement or permit.

To whom does the ban apply?

Prepared Food Providers and City Facilities:

  • Prohibited:  Use of polystyrene/PLA food ware, plastic/PLA water bottles, lid plugs, stirrers, and straws at all City facilities, including members of the public who rent City facilities for their private use. 
  • Prohibited:  Use of polystyrene/PLA food ware, plastic/PLA water bottles, lid plugs, stirrers, and straws at all City special events that are open to the public to attend, regardless if they are privately produced or City-sponsored.  
  • Prohibited:  Use of polystyrene/PLA food ware by all prepared food service providers including restaurants, grocery store deli’s, retailers, hotels/motels with restaurants, caterers, food trucks, convenience stores and farmers’ markets
  • Prohibited:  Use of plastic/PLA lid plugs, stirrers, and straws prepared food service providers including restaurants, grocery store deli’s, retailers, hotels/motels with restaurants, caterers, food trucks, convenience stores and farmers’ markets.

Retailers:

  • Prohibited: The sale of foam polystyrene single-use food ware containers, cups, bowls and plates.
  • Not prohibited: The sale of solid polystyrene single-use food ware containers, cups, cup lids, bowls, plates, cutlery, and straws until 1/1/2023.
  • Prohibited: The sale of polystyrene foam coolers not encased in another material.
  • Prohibited: The sale of polystyrene meat, poultry, fish, vegetable and egg cartons.
  • Prohibited: The use of polystyrene products for packing purposes for all regulated entities. 

May a prepared food service provider apply for an exemption?

Yes. 

An exemption to the ban may be provided for a one-year period if a food service provider demonstrates that the ban would cause undue hardship, which is defined as follows:

  • Situations unique to the food provider where there are no reasonable alternatives to polystyrene food ware exist and compliance with the ban would cause significant economic hardship to that food provider; or
  • Situations where no reasonably feasible alternatives exists for a specific and necessary polystyrene food ware item.

How do I report a violation?

You may report polystyrene foodware product sale or use violations by contacting the City’s Environmental Programs and Operations Department by calling 310-253-6423.

Click here to view form.

What is the penalty for not complying?

Violators are subject to the penalties and other provisions contained in CCMC Title 1, Chapter §1.01 General Provisions and Chapter §1.02 Administrative Citations:

  • $100 fine for the first offense
  • $200 for the second offense
  • $500 for each offense thereafter

Those persons who rent a City facility through execution of an agreement and are found to use, sell or distribute polystyrene food ware will forfeit their security deposit.

Do you want cutlery?

In order to reduce waste, prepared food service providers are required to ask their customers whether they want cutlery included with their take-out order (instead of automatically including it.)

Download Back-of-the-Register posters for your business.(PDF, 437KB)