Project Description
Plastic straws are too often littered and make their way into waterways and then to our oceans, where they’re eaten by marine life and sea birds. Exposure to the elements leads to the straws breaking into tiny pieces – microplastics – that infiltrate all living things, including humans.
Plastics are made from fossil fuels, a non-renewable and polluting resource. The useful life of a straw can be measured in minutes, but the environmental impacts of fossil fuel extraction, shipping, manufacturing and use can last for years or longer. Their small size means they will not be recycled. Alternatives such as stainless steel straws are available – or choose no straw.
Effective April 22, 2019, all Los Angeles food and beverage facilities that have more than 28 employees must comply with the Ordinance. These facilities may provide a disposable plastic straw to customers (both dine-in or take-out customers) only if the customer requests one.
To facilitate implementation, Jennifer wrote a mailer that was sent to all Los Angeles food and beverage facilities. One side provided ordinance information to the recipients; the other served as a customer information sign that could be posted at drive-in kiosks, ordering windows, and at counters.
The ordinance became effective for all food and beverage facilities on October 1, 2019.
Licensed Health Facilities, and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly as defined in Sections 1250 and 1569.2 of the California Health and Safety Code, are exempt from the ordinance.
Project Details
Title: Plastic Straws on Request Ordinance 186028
Type: Ordinance
Client: City of Los Angeles
Effective: October 1, 2019
