Three days before Easter Sunday, Christian environmentalists will have  fresh reason for joy:

Tuesday evening’s expected – but never guaranteed – passage  of an ordinance that later this year will forbid Culver City restaurants from using Styrofoam containers.

The 4-1 vote by the City Council – with Thomas Small dissenting — will be explained momentarily.

Eight months ago the Ballona Creek Renaissance environmental group stood before the City Council and complained about the thousands of pieces of dispensed polystyrene food containers cluttering Ballona Creek, Creek-adjacent pathways, the ocean, everywhere they walk or drive.

Tuesday evening’s first reading finally sets enactment in motion. It is expected to take a few more months for full implementation.

Take one bite of recent history:

Meghan Sahli-Wells and Mr. Small arguably are the most ardent environmentalists on the City Council, athough Goran Eriksson is right there, too.

Back in February, Mayor Jim Clarke introduced an amendment to the polystyrene ban that met resistance.  It allowed certain (hardship) exemptions to the ban. When Ms. Sahli-Wells introduced an amendment to look back on their action in a year, Mr. Small seconded it.

But the full Council voted 3-2 against the look back.

To sat it differently, the immediate road ahead is fully paved with craggy rocks. This should guarantee a bumpy ride between here and implementation.