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A. Findings. The City Council hereby finds and declares as follows:
1. The City of Los Angeles recognizes that, as a city government, it is a large consumer of goods and producer of waste, including its consumption of food or beverages and related Foodware and Foodware Accessories. The City holds a proprietary interest in its own activities and in activities of those using or operating in City facilities or on City Property, including lessees and permittees. Furthermore, the City recognizes the ways that these activities taking place in City facilities or on City Property can positively or negatively affect the environment.
B. Purpose. This article is adopted to accomplish the following purposes:
1. The City shall adopt zero waste policies by specifying ways for eliminating the use of Single-use plastics, including banning Expanded Polystyrene Foodware products and Single-use or Disposable containers at City facilities or events on City Property. Food and beverage providers operating on City Property can and should be required to supply reusable containers and shall permit customers to use their own reusable Foodware or Foodware Accessories. The City can effectuate positive environmental change in its proprietary capacity in additional ways by reducing food waste through rescue or recovery of Surplus Edible Food, participating in use of blue bins for recyclables, and using green bins for food waste and food-contaminated paper Foodware.
2. The City shall promote its zero waste policies by requiring mandatory provisions in contracts associated with use of or operations in City facilities or on City Property by Food or Beverage Providers.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 187,718, Eff. 1-23-23.
The following definitions shall apply throughout this article:
A. “City” means the City of Los Angeles.
B. “Contract” means any agreement, franchise, lease, application, permit, or concession related to use, occupancy, or operation in any City Facility or on City Property as a Food or Beverage Provider.
C. “Contractor” means any Person with a Contract as defined in this article.
D. “City Event” means any event hosted or organized by the City, or any of its officers, offices, or departments, that takes place in a City Facility or on City Property.
E. “City Facility” means all structures owned, operated, controlled, or maintained by the City.
F. “City Property” means all real property owned, operated, controlled, or maintained by the City.
G. “Community Event” means an event as defined by the California Retail Food Code Section 113755 or any successor section.
H. “Designated Administrative Agency” or “DAA” means the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation.
I. “Disposable” means designed to be used once and then discarded, and not designed for repeated use and sanitizing.
J. “Expanded Polystyrene” or “EPS” means molded Expanded Polystyrene, a rigid closed cell foam plastic labeled as “#6” plastic or resin. EPS also is referred to as “foam” and “Styrofoam”™.
K. “Food or Beverage Provider” means a Contractor that sells or otherwise provides food or beverages for consumption on or off its premises, and includes, but is not limited to, a shop, sales outlet, restaurant, bar, pub, coffee shop, coffee stand, juice and/or smoothie bar, cafeteria, caterer, convenience store, liquor store, grocery store, supermarket, delicatessen, farmers market, theater, mobile food truck, roadside stand, kiosks, carts, concession stand, vending machine operator, or a Vendor (as defined in Section 42.13 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code or any successor provision) or any organization, group, or individual that provides food or beverages.
L. “Food Rescue Organization” means any Person that performs food recovery services by collecting edible food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it consistent with applicable laws and regulations.
M. “Food Scraps” means solid waste from fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy products, fish, shellfish, nuts, seeds, grains, coffee grounds, and other food that results from the distribution, storage, preparation, cooking, handling, selling, or serving of food for human consumption. Food Scraps include, but are not limited to, excess, spoiled, or unusable food and includes inedible parts commonly associated with food preparation such as pits, shells, bones, and peels. Food Scraps do not include liquids or large amounts of fat, oils, or grease and meats which are collected for rendering, fuel production, or other non-disposal applications, or any food fit for human consumption that has been set aside, stored properly, and is accepted for donation by a charitable organization, or any food collected to feed animals in compliance with applicable regulations.
N. “Foodware” means plates, bowls, cups, serving dishes, containers, or any other item in which a food or beverage product is served.
O. “Foodware Accessory” means any item that accompanies a food or beverage served in Foodware, including, but not limited to, items defined in Section 196.01 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) or any successor provision: Utensils, Condiment Packets, Disposable Plastic Drinking Straws and all other Disposable drinking straws, stirrers, splash sticks, cocktail sticks, toothpicks, napkins, wet-wipes, cup or bowl lids, cup sleeves, and beverage trays.
P. “Person” means any individual, proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, trust, association or other entity that may enter into a Contract.
Q. “Pre-Consumer Food Scraps” means Food Scraps from the preparation of food or beverages.
R. “Prepackaged Meals/Food Items” means food or beverages that are prepackaged in Foodware.
S. “Post-Consumer Food Scraps” means Food Scraps remaining following consumer consumption of prepared food or beverages, including, but not limited to, remnants on or in Foodware.
T. “Rules and Procedures” means the rules and procedures relating to zero waste policies promulgated by the DAA for waste prevention at City Facilities and events held on City Property to promote source reduction and reuse and/or recycling, and mandate requirements for executing Contracts under this article.
U. “Single-use” means Disposable.
V. “Surplus Edible Food” means food that is edible and intended for people to eat, including food not sold because of appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, and includes, but is not limited to, prepared foods, packaged foods, or produce.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 187,718, Eff. 1-23-23.
A. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code or the LAMC to the contrary, every Contract shall include provisions obligating the Contractor to comply with the City’s zero waste policies.
1. Mandatory provisions shall include:
(a) Donation of Surplus Edible Food to a Food Rescue Organization. The Contractor must make advance arrangements with a Food Rescue Organization and donate to a Food Rescue Organization any Surplus Edible Food that will not be stored for later sale, or that will not be given to the Contractor’s employees or volunteers, whether for off-site or on-site (dine- in) consumption. Depending on the regularity of the production of Surplus Edible Food, the Contractor shall make arrangements with the Contractor-selected Food Rescue Organization at the appropriate frequency, as determined by the Contractor for donations of Surplus Edible Food. Donation of Surplus Edible Food shall be consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including an exception for Community Events. The Contractor may not dispose of Surplus Edible Food, except as prohibited by applicable law or regulation.
(b) Recycling of Food Scraps. Contractors must deposit Pre-Consumer Food Scraps and Post-Consumer Food Scraps into designated collection bins as provided by the City. The Rules and Procedures shall identify acceptable Pre-Consumer Food Scraps for depositing into the collection bins, which may include, but are not limited to, all Food Scraps, including raw and cooked meat and bones. The Rules and Procedures shall identify acceptable Post-Consumer Food Scraps for depositing into the collection bins, which may include, but are not limited to, bread, coffee grounds, dairy, fish, fruit, meat, vegetables, all-paper tea bags, and food or beverage contaminated paper products. Contractors who deposit disallowed items in any designated collection bins shall be subject to a liquidated damage for contamination of $50 for each collection bin contaminated by the Contractor. This contamination liquidated damage may be deducted from any deposit as permitted under applicable law, or as invoiced by the City. Contractors are encouraged to utilize all portions of foods that they prepare, such as vegetable and fruit foliage, stems, and peels, rather than disposing these items.
(c) Meal Portion Sizes. Contractors shall offer half portions, child portions, and a la carte options and avoid garnishes that are not commonly eaten.
(d) No Disposable Foodware.
(1) Contractor shall not provide Disposable Foodware for dine-in meal service or catered service. Contractors may permit purchase by customers of reusable, to-go Foodware (i.e., through a vending machine or other similar food container system).
(2) Contractor shall use only recyclable or compostable Foodware for to-go service. Recyclability and/or compostability shall be determined as specified in the Rules and Procedures.
(3) For all meal service, Contractors shall dispense or serve beverages in reusable or recyclable cups, or in recyclable bottles or cans made of glass, metal, or recyclable plastic. When practicable and in the discretion of the Contractor, the Contractor may dispense beverages in their original bottles and cans.
(4) Contractors shall allow customers to provide their own reusable and clean Foodware.
(5) Contractors shall not provide water in plastic bottles or in Disposable cups. Contractors shall provide hydration or bottle refill stations.
(e) No Disposable Foodware Accessories. Contractor shall not provide Disposable Foodware Accessories, except as otherwise provided in this article.
(1) Contractors shall serve any Condiments in dispensers, such as manual or electric pump dispensers or their equivalent.
(2) For dine-in meal service or catered service, Contractors shall use only reusable (i.e., washable and cleanable) napkins and tablecloths. Contractors shall not provide Disposable napkins or tablecloths at dine-in meal service or catered service.
(3) Contractors may provide Disposable napkins for take-out, but any Disposable paper napkins shall be unbleached and contain a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled content. The minimum percentage of postconsumer recycled content may be increased according to applicable law, and as specified in the Rules and Procedures.
(f) No EPS. Contractors shall not use EPS Foodware or EPS products of any kind.
(g) Incentives to Customers of Dine-in Service. Contractors who provide dine-in service shall provide incentives to customers for dine-in or on-site food consumption by allowing reusable Foodware and Foodware Accessories. Contractors shall offer a discount to customers who provide their own reusable Foodware for beverages or for food. Contractors shall inform customers of any such discounts consistent with the Rules and Procedures.
(h) Recycling Program Participation. Contractors must offer a recycling collection program (i.e., recycling bins and foodwaste bins) identical to the City’s curbside residential and City facilities recycling programs, as specified in the Rules and Procedures.
(i) Restroom Supplies. Contractors shall equip any restrooms accessible to customers with electric hand dryers, to the extent feasible, and by no later than January 1, 2025. If the City provides composting or other processing of used restroom paper towels, then in any restrooms accessible to customers of Contractors, Contractors shall collect and separate used paper towels from other restroom sanitary waste for depositing into designated collection bins, or deliver the used paper towels to designated sites, for composting consistent with the Rules and Procedures. In any restrooms accessible to customers, Contractors shall provide hand soap in refillable containers.
(j) Signage by DAA. The Rules and Procedures shall include sample language Contractors can use to explain the rationale for various waste prevention measures for use on signs, menus, and other communications mechanisms, as determined by the Contractor. The Rules and Procedures will specify how and where Contractors must display information or signage about zero waste measures.
(k) Composition of Paper Requirements for Informational Literature. Contractors who distribute informational literature (i.e., brochures, flyers) printed on paper, including, but not limited to, Community Events or catered events, shall use recyclable paper that contains a minimum of 30% postconsumer recycled content and shall include text on the printed paper that refers to the percentage of postconsumer content, such as “Printed on paper that contains 30% postconsumer recycled content” or “Contains 30% postconsumer recycled content”. The minimum percentage of postconsumer recycled content may be increased according to applicable law, and as specified in the Rules and Procedures.
(l) Requirements for Composition of Promotional Items.
(1) Contractors may only provide promotional items that are functional, including, but not limited to, rulers, plate scrapers, pencil sharpeners, or reusable shopping bags.
(2) Contractors shall not provide any promotional items made of plastic or any synthetic fabric.
(m) No Disposable Plastic Carry-out Bags for Certain Establishments. Contractors who are not “stores” as defined by California Public Resources Code Section 42280 or any successor provision shall not provide to customers plastic bags, or bags that are made wholly or partially of synthetic fabrics, including recycled PET plastic. Contractors may provide or sell to customers Disposable paper bags and/or reusable cloth bags.
B. All Contractors who enter into Contracts with the City shall include mandatory provisions specified in the Rules and Procedures in all subcontracts awarded for work to be performed under the Contract with the City.
C. Failure of the Contractor to comply with the requirements of this article shall subject the Contractor to the imposition of any and all sanctions allowed by law, including, but not limited to, the termination of the Contractor’s Contract with the City.
D. Nothing contained in this Contract shall be construed in any manner so as to require or permit any act which is prohibited by law.
SECTION HISTORY
Added by Ord. No. 187,718, Eff. 1-23-23.
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