Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP / Getty Images
In order to alleviate the expenses of restaurants and seek to reduce plastic waste, this Monday an ordinance of the city of Los Angeles comes into force that establishes that Disposable food utensils, such as cutlery and napkins, are only available in stores when requested by customers .
The mandate, which was approved by the City Council in April, will go into effect for food and beverage facilities with more than 26 employees, and for the 22 April 2022 will be expanded to all food facilities .
Said ordinance prohibits facilities from having self-service plastic food utensil dispensers and from providing or offering disposable food utensil accessories to customers consuming food on site and for personal use. onas with take-out orders, except when requested.
The places that do not comply with the mandate will receive a writing for the first and second violation, and if the order is violated again, a fine of $ 25 dollars for each subsequent violation .
The collective fines of an establishment may not exceed $ 300 dollars per calendar year.
The Councilman Paul Koretz, promoter of the ordinance, stated that California restaurants have already exchanged utensils upon request and have saved between $ 3, 000 and $ 21, 000 dollars per year .
A report from the International Waste Association stated that, during the pandemic, u n increase between 250% and 300% the amount of single-use disposable utensils.
Said ordinance is similar to the law of straws on demand in the city since 22 April 2019, which prohibits Los Angeles restaurants from automatically giving customers plastic straws .
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