California’s Plastic Ban Needs More Than Legislation

California, a pioneer in addressing environmental challenges, has taken decisive action against plastic pollution by implementing a series of bans on single-use plastics at the state, county, and local levels. With a population of 39.5 million residents generating nearly 23,000 tons of plastic waste daily, the state’s bold measures are a critical step towards reducing pollution and enhancing public health.

The statewide ban on single-use plastics in foodservice targets restaurants, cafes, bars, and institutional foodservice providers in colleges, universities, hospitals, prisons, and other facilities. This ban is a significant effort to combat the 8 million metric tons of plastic entering oceans each year worldwide, much of which originates from single-use plastic items.

Central to these efforts are Assembly Bill 1080 and Senate Bill 54, both enacted in 2020. The bills focus on single-use plastics made from non-recyclable or non-compostable materials and mandate producers to minimize their waste by 75% by 2030. Additionally, specific plastics, such as polystyrene foam and plastic straws, are being phased out entirely.

There is a common misconception that these products are recycled. In truth, a recent Greenpeace report estimates that a mere 5–6% of U.S. plastics are recycled, that plastics are not fundamentally recyclable, and that recycling is not economical. The report also cites health concerns for both animals and humans associated with the recycling process. This means the best thing we can do is turn off the tap on plastic, which this legislation seeks to do, rather than hope we can recycle our way out of the growing plastic crisis.

Environmental activists have lauded the state’s proactive stance. Jenn Engstrom, state director of CALPIRG, stated, “California’s leadership on this issue sends a powerful message that we are committed to safeguarding our environment and public health.” Laura Deehan, state director of Environment California, added that the bans “represent a significant step forward in addressing the plastic pollution crisis.”

While this legislation is pioneering in many ways, it is also aspirational, and perhaps even severe, in others. Many food operators and consumers have transitioned from traditional disposable plastics in California, but many still have not due to the price and accessibility of alternative packaging and the lack of proper waste infrastructure to dispose of it. There is and will continue to be a large learning curve within the foodservice industry to meet the legislation’s demands.

At the same time, California needs to develop the infrastructure necessary to support the transition away from single-use plastics. The state currently lacks the systems needed to properly collect and process non-plastic alternatives. Compostables are a good alternative, but California needs to develop and implement what is necessary to support them. Without this, the mandates will not be effective.

To move forward with eliminating single-use plastics, we can’t lose sight of the bigger picture, particularly when larger issues remain widely unaddressed and unsolved. There are a lot of different parts and players that need to align and work together.

Though there has been significant progress in developing realistic, sustainable disposable food service products for operators, further development and innovation is still needed here as well. The lifecycle of these solutions is enormously important, including where and how these plant-based products start and end to help ensure they are truly sustainable. A bio-based cycle, using natural systems rather than extractive ones, is necessary to support better environmental practices. Products need to be safe and non-toxic, and also meet the needs of both food operators and consumers. They must maintain temperature, freshness, quality, and crispness while being leak-proof and capable of meeting a range of operational demands. The effort to find and create real-world solutions that help food service operators comply with new legislation and meet sustainability demands will be an ongoing process.

To achieve California’s ban on single-use plastic, all of these factors must come together properly. Legislators need to go beyond creating laws and mandates to develop the necessary infrastructure to process and dispose of sustainable alternatives. These key players, along with food service operators, suppliers, and product manufacturers, must work together and focus on what is necessary today to make a plastic-free future possible. A mishandled rollout could result in economic and societal loss, not just in California alone, but throughout the country. We have an incredible opportunity to drive powerful change and set an example. But we need to be realistic, and more importantly, we need to work together.

​Despite these challenges, California’s plastic ban is necessary. There are many people and organizations rising to the task. Organizations like Environment Oregon and Environment Washington are offering resources and guidance, while CoPIRG in Colorado is leading businesses to explore and adopt alternatives such as compostable packaging. Foodservice operators are also creating models and processes that others can follow, and product manufacturers are playing an equally important role.

We are creating a new and better path together, one that other states can follow and emulate. Although the shift away from single-use plastics may be difficult, it’s not impossible. The long-term benefits of diminished pollution, improved public health, and a more sustainable future make these efforts more than worthwhile.