Culver City leaders took action to enhance their environmentally conscious credentials by making it illegal to sell products made with polystyrene, joining over 100 California cities and counties that have banned plastic-based containers and utensils.
The 4-1 vote was somewhat anticlimactic due to the overwhelming public support for an ordinance. Pushed for nearly a year by the environmental nonprofit Ballona Creek Renaissance, the city council finally agreed late last year to consider banning polystyrene, a polymer that can be lethal to marine life if it finds its way into the ocean.
Councilman Thomas Small was the lone no vote.
The new ordinate contains an exemption for restaurants that sell “food service ware”- takeout utensils, containers and cups- ” that has been determined not to have a reasonably feasible alternative due to cost or availability,” according to the staff report.
The ordinance will come back to the council for final reading on May 8.
Several speakers protested having the exemption, fearing that it could open the door for businesses to exploit at some point.
“It creates a slippery slope. It’s a loophole that is not needed,” said Benjamin Kay, who teaches environmental science at Santa Monica College.
Councilman Goran Eriksson disagreed. “I don’t see this as a loophole. I see this as a practical way of getting where we want to go,” the councilman said.
City Manager John Nachbar’s office will develop a list of the exempted products that will sunset after a year.
That amendment was added by Councilwoman Meghan Sahli-Wells.
The 18 speakers were all supportive of the ordinance with the exception of the exemption provision.
Culver City High School senior Sullivan Burke expressed a bit of frustration when he addressed the council.
“We should finalize this and finish it tonight,” said Barth, noting that Earth Day was around the corner.
Margot Parker, who volunteers with the Surfrider Foundation, said she has seen the proliferation of plastic during coastal cleanups firsthand. “I’ve seen how critical it is to move away from polystyrene,” she said.
“It’s been a long and arduous road, “Eriksson concluded,” and we are at the end.”
The ban will officially go into effect on Oct. 24.
