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Version FAQ
When does the ordinance take effect?
● February 9, 2007
for all city facilities and operations, city managed
concessions, and city sponsored and permitted
events.
● February 9, 2008
for all food service providers in Santa Monica.
Why did the City of Santa Monica ban non-recyclable
plastic and polystyrene?Expanded
polystyrene and non-recyclable plastic together make
up the largest amount of waste that ends up on Santa
Monica’s beaches. At the annual Coastal
Cleanup Day, 10,000 volunteers came out to clean the
beaches and in three hours picked up over 75,000
lbs. of trash, most of which was identified as
Styrofoam®
and plastic. This plastic waste causes
significant environmental damage to the beach and
marine environment. It can also harm marine
animals and birds who mistake it for food.
Polystyrene is made from crude oil and when
improperly disposed persists in the environment for
hundreds of years. By banning these types of
disposable plastic food containers, the ordinance
will help to reduce the amount of these materials
that pollute Santa Monica’s beaches and the bay.
What are the banned food service containers?
Non-recyclable plastic refers to any plastic which
cannot be feasibly recycled by a municipal recycling
program in the State of California. This
specifically refers to expanded polystyrene (also
known as Styrofoam®) and clear or rigid polystyrene,
both of which are marked with the symbol #6 on the
bottom.
This ban applies to single-use disposable containers
intended for serving or transporting prepared,
ready-to-eat food or beverages. Examples include
cups, plates, trays, bowls, and hinged or lidded
containers. This ordinance does not apply to
single-use disposable food service items which are
not used as food containers, such as straws, cup
lids and utensils.
Who must comply with this ordinance?
This ordinance prohibits all food providers in the
City of Santa Monica from dispensing prepared food
in non-recyclable plastic food service containers.
“Food provider” means any establishment, located or
providing food within the City of Santa Monica,
which provides prepared food for public consumption
on or off its premises and includes without
limitation any store, shop, sales outlet,
restaurant, delicatessen, grocery store, super
market, catering truck or vehicle, or any other
person who provides prepared food, and any
organization, group, or individual that regularly
provides food as a part of its service. The
ordinance also covers food containers purchased by
city staff; food programs sponsored by the city,
city-sponsored events, city-managed concessions and
city-permitted events.
What
are the penalties for non-compliance?
● The 1st
violation results in a written warning.
●
The 2nd violation results in a fine up to $100.
●
The 3rd violation & any following violations result
in a daily fine up to $250.
What types of containers are allowed under the
ordinance?
●
Aluminum
●
Coated and uncoated paper
●
Recyclable plastics
●
Biodegradable products made from corn, sugar cane,
bamboo, and other rapidly renewable resources.
What is the heat tolerance of biodegradable
products?
When determining what type of biodegradable product
line to use, it is important to know whether you
will be serving hot or cold food. For example, a
popular corn-based container has a heat tolerance of
around 110 degrees F and is excellent for salads,
sandwiches and cold drinks, but not hot foods or
drinks. Specific brands of biodegradable food
containers are designed for hot foods and drinks.
Before you choose a container, be sure to ask for
information on heat tolerance and other product
specifications.
Where do I find acceptable food service containers?
Contact or visit your sales representative to
inquire about acceptable containers. If they do not
carry them, request that they begin doing so. As a
service to the community, the city will provide a
list of suppliers of acceptable food service
containers.
See
distributor list.
Who can I call for questions about where to find
alternative products, ordinance enforcement,
exemptions, recycling technical assistance or
community presentations?
Contact Josephine Miller of the Environmental
Programs Division at 310-458-4925 or
josephine.miller@smgov.net
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