The city of Los Angeles is moving forward with plans to reduce the use of single-use plastic items at city facilities. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Los Angeles City Councilmen Mitch O’Farrell, Paul Krekorian and Paul Koretz, along with Council President Nury Martinez, on Feb. 16 led the City Council in a unanimous vote approving a landmark series of instructions that will move the city forward in a reduction of single-use plastics.

“This is another decisive and progressive step taken by Los Angeles as we lead the way on environmental restoration, and we have set the stage for other municipalities to follow our lead,” said Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District, chair of the Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice and River Committee. “[This] vote builds on several actions we have already taken – including reducing single-use foodware accessories, plastic straws on request and reducing plastic bags – as well as our ongoing ‘LA100’ plan to achieve 100% carbon-free energy by 2035.”

The council’s action instructs L.A. Sanitation and Environment and other departments to report on strategies for implementing a phase-out of the purchase and use of single-use plastics at city facilities and city-sponsored events. The report is expected to be completed by Earth Day, April 22.

O’Farrell stressed the importance of involving all stakeholders, including small businesses and restaurants, in the process to phase out single-use plastics, emphasizing the goal of “creating the infrastructure necessary to build a holistic circular system, rather than a failing linear system” where items that are supposedly recyclable are not recyclable at all.

To better inform Angelenos of important environmental news, as well as updates from the ECCEJR committee, O’Farrell has launched the “Greener L.A. Updates” electronic newsletter. For information, visit bit.ly/GreenerLAupdates.