Why did the City of Santa Monica ban non-recyclable plastic and polystyrene?
Expanded polystyrene and non-recyclable plastic together make up the largest amount of waste that ends up on Santa Monica’s beaches. At the annual Coastal Cleanup Day, 10,000 volunteers came out to clean the beaches and in three hours picked up over 75,000 lbs. of trash, most of which was identified as Styrofoam® and plastic. This plastic waste causes significant environmental damage to the beach and marine environment. It can also harm marine animals and birds who mistake it for food. Polystyrene is made from crude oil and when improperly disposed persists in the environment for hundreds of years. By banning these types of disposable plastic food containers, the ordinance will help to reduce the amount of these materials that pollute Santa Monica’s beaches and the bay.
