Food Facility Waivers

In April 2022, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors adopted a motion directing Public Works and other County Departments to plan and launch an extensive outreach and education campaign for the Single-Use Plastics Ordinance and assist businesses in complying with the ordinance.

• Board motion
  

An amendment of this motion directed Public Works and other County Departments to develop a clear and accessible process for businesses experiencing hardship to obtain waivers or exemptions

• Amendment to Board motion
  
  

In June 2022, Public Works prepared a report to the Board describing the waiver process.

• Board Report
  
  

Businesses that wish to assert undue hardship caused by complying with the Single-Use Plastics Ordinance can apply for a waiver from Public Works. It is expected, at a minimum, that they demonstrate one or more of the following:

• That they are a full-service restaurant at which access to adequate dishwashing facilities for reusable food serviceware is lacking.
  
  
• They have already purchased large amounts of noncompliant products and need 1 year or less to exhaust their existing inventory.
  
  
• That compliance causes undue financial hardship. This information will be reviewed by Public Works, and consideration of a waiver will be made on a case-by-case basis.
  
  

Public Works, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, is currently developing guidelines for compliance, including procedures for food facilities and retail establishments to apply for waivers, as set forth in the Ordinance. The guidelines will also identify any non-compostable, non-recyclable single-use articles that food facilities are authorized to use, in accordance with Section 12.86.015 of the Ordinance. Please contact SUPOrdinance@pw.lacounty.gov or 888-CLEANLA if you have any questions or comments.