In an effort to reduce the use of disposable plastics, on April 5, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors tentatively approved an ordinance requiring that any food containers, cups, plates and cutlery provided by restaurants and food handlers in Los Angeles County must be compostable and recyclable.

    The decree also prohibits the sale of“expanded polystyrene” or“Styrofoam” in retail store, including coolers, packaging materials, cups and pool toys, these items can only be sold if they are wrapped in“durable material”

The decree also requires full-service restaurants with seated service to provide customers with reusable cutlery and plates. Subject to final approval by the County Board of Supervisors, the ordinance will go into effect on May 1, 2023, and apply to all food facilities and all retail stores operating at permanent locations.

    The decree is backed by various environmental groups, who have enumerated the impact of plastics on local and global waste streams, as well as on people's overall health. Billions of pounds of plastic waste enter the marine environment every year, and that number is expected to triple by 2040, The Environmental Group said marine animals "are consuming or becoming entangled in plastic", noting that plastic is also becoming a health problem for humans. "Now that plastics are found in our water, food, air and bodies, scientists are still learning how this might affect human health".