Oxnard-- The Community Services Public Safety Housing & Development Committee, Tuesday, February 22, received an update about an expanded Polystyrene Ban Ordinance.
THE committee asked that the exemption for non-profits be carved out of the ordinance.
The ordinance will regulate non-encased EPS (EPS) products used to manufacture flimsy or non-encased styrofoam coolers, followed by a future regulation of rigid plastics like flexible drink straws, drink lids, and plastic cutlery.
Planning & Sustainability Manager Kathleen Malloy presented the update to the committee, and she said the ordinance is an outcome of the city’s climate action plan, and the ordinance supports climate and environmental goals.
“The development of the Expanded Polystyrene Ordinance supports environmental goals and addresses litter and pollution in the community,” she said. “The staff’s recommended ordinance focuses on EPS in two steps; a ban on EPS or single-use flexible plastic, which is commonly used for single-use plates, cups, takeout food containers, commonly referred to as clamshell containers, as well as packing materials generated within the city.”
She said the ordinance development would occur when the Ventura County processing facilities become operational and compostable recycling markets are available locally to handle the product.
“EPS is slow to degrade, leaches chemicals…
