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SUSTAINABILITY - ACTION ITEM: (1) Discussion of Enforcement Options for Restrictions of Balloons, Plastic Carry-Out Bags, and Single-Use Plastic Bottles; (2) Recommendation to City Council.
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Meeting Date: January 8, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Wallis Nash, Public Works Department - EPO Division
Phone Number: (310) 253-6445
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [ ] General Fund: Yes [X] No [ ]
Attachments: Yes [ ] No [X]
Public Notification: Email via GovDelivery (01/06/2026): Meetings and Agendas - Sustainability Subcommittee, Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission; Stay Informed - Community Gardening, Sustainability and Environmental Issues, Urban Forest Management, Environmental Programs and Events
Department Approval: Yanni Demitri, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the Sustainability Subcommittee (1) discuss enforcement options for restrictions of balloons, plastic carry-out bags, and single-use plastic bottles; and (2) make recommendations for each regulation type to be submitted to the City Council for consideration.
BACKGROUND
At the October 13, 2025 meeting, the City Council made multiple decisions regarding restrictions of balloons, plastic carry-out bags, and single-use plastic bottles. The City Council wanted more detail about how these restrictions would be enforced. Enforcement development was sent to the Sustainability Subcommittee. The Subcommittee was tasked to discuss enforcement options and make recommendations for consideration at a future City Council meeting.
Balloons
The City Council supported the Sustainability Subcommittee’s recommendation to ban: the use of balloons in public spaces, regardless of material or fill, the intentional release of balloons, regardless of material or fill, the use of fill that is lighter than oxygen, and require additional weights and tethers, and an economic development measure to provide consultation to businesses with revenue of over 50% from balloon sales.
Plastic Carry-Out Bags
The City Council supported the Sustainability Subcommittee’s recommendation to ban the sale/distribution of all plastic carry-out bags citywide. This would expand restrictions to include businesses the state’s regulations do not currently cover. However, if shoppers have their own plastic carry-out bags, they can continue to use them. The City Council also recommended utilizing an 18-month phase-in period and provide hardship waivers.
Single-Use Plastic Bottles
The City Council supported the Subcommittee’s recommendation to expand the current Waste Reduction Regulations to ban any single-use plastic beverage bottle from use or distribution in City facilities or at City-sponsored events.
DISCUSSION
The enforcement of all these products could be uniform or specific to each product.
There are three enforcement strategies that other cities have implemented along with such regulations.
1. Civilian-Led Enforcement: Civilians can cite each other or businesses, including taking the infracting party to small claims court. This method would require no staff time or City funds to implement.
2. Complaint-Led Enforcement: Community members can submit a witnessed violation of a regulation and the Environmental Compliance Inspector may respond by going to the business. The inspector would explain the regulation, provide a timeframe in which the infraction would need to be remedied, and explain the hardship waiver process. Upon follow-up inspection, if the infraction has not been remedied, the case would be referred to code compliance for citation. Depending on the volume of complaints, this strategy could require additional resources in both the Public Works EPO Division and Code Enforcement.
3. Inspection-Led Enforcement: The Environmental Compliance Inspector would proactively inspect businesses for the regulated products. If the business is found to be not in compliance, the inspector may respond by explaining the infraction, discussing a timeline to remedy the infraction, and providing information about the hardship waiver process. Upon follow-up inspection, if the infraction has not been remedied, the case would be referred to code compliance for citation. This strategy would likely require additional resources in both the Public Works EPO Division and Code Enforcement.
In addition to any enforcement strategy, the Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) Division would continue to provide proactive educational outreach through social media and the website, as well as at in-person events.
The City Council meeting only established an 18-month phase in and the hardship waiver for the Plastic Carry-Out bag restriction. These timelines and waivers could be extended to all three products or each product could have their own phase-in period.
Fiscal Analysis
The fiscal impact to the City would depend on the chosen enforcement strategy. Strategies 2 and 3 would likely require additional budgeted resources in both the Public Works EPO Division and Code Enforcement.
Attachments
None.