Waste Reduction

The following are banned per CCMC 5.07

• The Citywide sale of polystyrene foam food containers such as cups, bowls, plates, and clamshell containers.
• The Citywide sale of foam coolers not encased in other material and all single-use polystyrene foam.
• The Citywide sale of polystyrene meat, poultry, fish and vegetable trays and egg cartons.
• Food providers cannot distribute, use, or sell plastic, PLA or single-use polystyrene food containers such as cups, bowls, plates, and clamshell containers for take-out, delivery, or on-premises dining.
• The sale or distribution of Plastic and PLA straws, stirrers, and lid plugs.
• The sale or use of polystyrene packing materials used in shipping containers.
• The use of any disposable food service ware for on-premises dining.
• All serviceware for take-out must be eligible for organics collection.
• The distribution or sale of single-use plastic water bottles at any City facility or City sponsored event.
  
  

• Prepared food providers including restaurants, grocery stores, delis, retailers, hotels/motels with restaurants, caterers, food trucks, convenience stores and farmers’ markets
• Members of the public who rent city facilities for their private use
• Retailers who sell or use:
  • foam polystyrene single-use food ware containers, cups, bowls and plates
  • solid polystyrene single-use food ware containers, cups, cup lids, bowls, plates, cutlery
  • polystyrene foam coolers not encased in another material
  • polystyrene meat, poultry, fish, vegetable and egg cartons
  • polystyrene products for packing purposes for all regulated entities
    
    

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 in compliance
• Compliance would cause significant economic hardship to that food provider
  
  

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". 

Contact sustainability@culvercity.org to apply for an exemption.

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

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a type of bioplastic commonly used in various consumer products due to its biodegradable properties. To identify PLA, consumers can look for the recycling code "7" or the letters "PLA" on the product, often found on packaging materials, disposable cutlery, and food containers. To avoid PLA, consumers can opt for products clearly labeled as made from other materials like PET (recycling code "1") or HDPE (recycling code "2"), or choose reusable items made from metal, glass, or durable plastics. Checking product labels and favoring brands that emphasize their use of non-PLA materials can also help in avoiding PLA products.

The following items shall no longer be used, sold, or be distributed within Culver City: