Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program

The City of Los Angeles (City), as the Lead Agency, through its Bureau of Sanitation (LA Sanitation and Environment, LASAN), has prepared a Notice of Preparation (NOP) and is preparing a Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for the proposed Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program (Proposed Program), which is further described below.

PROJECT LOCATION: The Proposed Program would occur throughout the City of Los Angeles (City).

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The City seeks to implement a citywide Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program, which would involve measures to reduce or eliminate the production and use of single-use plastic products and encourage reuse of other items to the extent feasible, thereby reducing or eliminating the input of single-use plastics into the City’s waste stream and the environment (“upstream” measures). These upstream measures may include bans on specific single-use products; product stewardship programs (e.g., certain packaging and/or foodware items); extended producer responsibility programs (e.g., take-back programs for certain textiles); policies to require and/or support the manufacturing of durable, reusable, repairable, and recyclable products (e.g., requirements for recycled content in certain products); and evaluating program efficacy and conducting additional studies (e.g., additional take-back programs and/or pilot programs).

The City anticipates that a decrease in single-use plastics could result in an increase in the use of reusable, compostable, and recyclable materials in the City. Therefore, the program includes elements to increase the City’s ability to manage these materials, such as by collecting, reusing, recycling, and composting alternative materials and supporting reusable products (“downstream” measures). These downstream measures may include the construction or expansion of recycling and composting facilities; regional market development to expand the City’s ability to recycle and reuse currently unmarketable single-use items; and infrastructure to support the use of reusable items. The Proposed Program would also include public education, outreach, and engagement as well as enforcement.

PUBLIC REVIEW PERIOD: The Notice of Preparation will be circulated for a 30-day review period beginning on May 1, 2023, and ending on May 30, 2023. Proposed Program documents are available for download below.

For your comments to be considered in the PEIR process, please send your written or typed comments on the NOP to LASAN by one of the following delivery methods. In your comments, please include your name, email address, telephone number, address, and the subject line “Comprehensive Plastics Reduction PEIR”.

Email: Christine.Batikian@lacity.org

Or Mail: LASAN - Solid Resources Citywide Recycling Division
Attn: Christine Batikian
1149 S. Broadway, 5th Floor MS 944
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Or Online Submissions: Please fill out the comment form linked here: Scoping Comment Form

LASAN requests that written comments be provided at the earliest possible date, but no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday May 30, 2023.

PUBLIC MEETINGS: Two virtual scoping meetings will be held. The meeting dates and time are as follows:

Scoping Meeting #1 - May 10, 2023 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Registration Link

Scoping Meeting #2 - May 11, 2023 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Registration Link

The purpose of the meetings is to provide information and answer questions on the Proposed Program and the environmental analysis to be included in the PEIR. Questions raised in the meetings will not be considered to be official scoping comments. Official comments must be submitted in writing as described above.

DOCUMENTS FOR PUBLIC REVIEW:

Report (Click on italicized text to view report)	Review Status	Public Review Period
Notice of Preparation	Open	05/01/2023 to 05/30/2023
Proposed Program Fact Sheet
Presentation PDF: Scoping Meeting
Video: Scoping Meeting Presentation - City of Los Angeles Proposed Comprehensive Plastic Reduction Program
Video: Presentación: Proyecto Propuesto - Ciudad de Los Ángeles Programa Integral de Reducción de Plásticos