Starting April 30, 2019, Calabasas will prohibit the sale and distribution of plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery.

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Why is This Important?

With this ordinance, the City of Calabasas desires to protect the natural environment, the health of its citizens, and the economy.

Discarded plastic cutlery, stirrers, and straws continue to cause environmental harm and are a growing portion of Calabasas’ waste stream. The use of these products has increased over the years and they have been found to pollute our creeks and natural environment. Regulation of these products, therefore, is a necessary contribution to encourage an environmentally friendly waste stream and to protect the environment.

In the interest of health and welfare of all who live, work, and do business in the City, the amount of non-biodegradable products such as plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery should be reduced. These products end up in existing landfill sites that are quickly reaching capacity or in our creeks and storm drains. Reduction of non-biodegradable wastes entering Calabasas’ waste stream and encouraging the use of recyclable products further these goals.

Replacing plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery with those that are biodegradable will further protect the public’s health, Calabasas’ natural environment, wildlife, and creeks. The reduction of supplies will originate at retail food establishments within the City and is desirable and necessary to reduce the volume of non-biodegradable waste.

Non-biodegradable plastic materials pose a challenge to any financially and environmentally responsible solid waste management program. Regulation of plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery is necessary to reduce the economic and environmental impacts of solid wastes and protect the City’s natural environment.

• More information regarding Ordinance No. 2018-368

Background

On October 10, 2018, the City Council introduced Ordinance No. 2018-368 regulating the use of plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery that diminish the environment’s appearance and continue to inflict environmental harm by polluting the waterways and oceans due to their indefinite presence in the environment. The Ordinance was adopted on October 24, 2018.

As of April 30, 2019, Calabasas will no longer allow the sale and distribution of plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery. Non-plastic alternative straws will not automatically be provided at full-service restaurants, and must be requested by the customer per State of California adopted Assembly Bill 1884. However, the law does not apply to fast-food restaurants, coffee shops, delis, or restaurants serving takeout.

Assembly Bill 1884

This bill would prohibit a full-service restaurant, as specified, from providing single-use plastic straws, as defined, to consumers unless requested by the consumer. The provisions would be enforced by the same officers authorized to enforce the California Retail Food Code. By creating a new crime and imposing additional enforcement duties on local health agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.