Freshly returned City Councilman Goran Eriksson and Mayor Jim Clarke both say they have no idea about the outcome of a proposed styrofoam ban that will be debated at this evening’s 7 o’clock Council meeting in Council Chambers.
They caution that no binding action can be taken. One logical scenario – hinging on a vote – would be to direct city staff on how to proceed.
Mr. Eriksson, recently in Europe on a combination business trip and holiday, repeatedly asserted during his campaign last spring that the concept of trash-handling “needs to be visited in a much more comprehensive way. Addressing styrofoam is just one way.”
“Lots of unanswered questions remain,” Mr. Clarke said. “I have no idea what will happen tonight. There may need to be further investigations.”
As of this morning, 14 speakers, from both sides, had declared their intentions to opine tonight.
The agenda item originated with the Ballona Creek Renaissance environmental group.
Renaissance leaders are recommending a ban on the use of polystyrene in Culver City after witnessing first-hand large quantities of polystyrene debris floating to the ocean during its creek cleanups over the last decade.
Polystyrene easily blows in the wind, then gets caught in vegetation and floats down the local streams.
It contributes to making Ballona Creek the No. 1 polluter of Santa Monica Bay.
While polystyrene take-out containers are inexpensive to manufacture, and inexpensive for restaurants to purchase, they are damaging to humans.
They leach a carcinogen (styrene)
into food and beverages when heated. They are harmful to animals when mistaken for food. This is not a new idea.
The School District and Fiesta La Ballona already have successfully banned polystyrene containers.
The ban would be aimed at non-recyclable polystyrene take-out disposable food service containers
Polystyrene comes in two basic forms:
a) Expanded Polystyrene, which is used for cheap, disposable food-ware (cups, plates, clamshells) and shipping packaging.
b) Solid polystyrene is used for disposable cutlery, plastic models, cd cases, and more.
Popularly known as styrofoam, polystyrene includes fusion of polymer spheres, injection molding, form
molding, and extrusion-blow molding.
Polystyrene includes clear or solid polystyrene, which is known as “oriented polystyrene.” The plastic recycling symbol for polystyrene is #6. It is not recyclable in Culver City.
Which food service containers would this ban affect?
Disposable food service containers — which means single-use disposable products used in the restaurant and food service industry for serving or transporting prepared, ready-to-consume
food or beverages.
This includes plates, cups, bowls, trays and hinged or lidded containers. This does not include single-use disposable items such as straws, or cup lids, nor does it include single-use disposable packaging for unprepared foods.
For utensils, we would like to recommend that they be required to be made of compostable materials in anticipation of the new AB1826 composting requirements.
It is recommended to base our ordinance on Santa Monica Ordinance #2216 with the addition of a requirement to have utensils made of compostable materials, since
AB1826 requires the city to provide composting of organic materials. A campaign to notify affected business may be needed. One suggestion is incorporating inspections into existing business inspections or reviews. The general public can provide information to the city, too.
More cities in California ban polystyrene than any other state, 70.
Among Southern California communities with full or partial bans are Hermosa Beach, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach,
Santa Monica, Calabasas, Huntington Beach, Dana Point, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, San Clemente and
West Hollywood.
Ballona Creek Renaissance leaders may be contacted at www.ballonacreek.org
