By Sheridan McKnight
News Editor
The Redondo Beach City Council passed a citywide ban on styrofoam containers, plastic utensils and straws on Jan. 7 with a 4-1 vote.
The ordinance requires a second reading within the council before going into full effect. This will make the distribution of many plastic materials illegal within the city.
“I think the plastic ban is a good thing and a step in the right direction, but I also think plastic has its needs,” Costa Astrophysics teacher and Junior Lifeguard instructor Dan Bartlett said. “I think there are limits to what we should do, but I like the fact that the city is trying to make a change.”
Many neighboring cities have passed similar ordinances, including Hermosa Beach, which passed a similar plastic ban in November 2019. South Bay citites are working together to reduce plastic pollution in the oceans, according to Hermosa Beach Mayor Mary Campbell.
“This recent ban on plastics reinforces the city’s dedication to improving its environment,” Campbell said. “These materials make up much of the litter we find in our communities. The detrimental effects of plastics on aquatic life is well documented, and as a beach community, Hermosa has a special responsibility to address these environmental threats.”
In addition, the council discussed banning helium balloons in Redondo. According to encenter.org, “sea turtles, dolphins, whales, fish and birds have been reported with balloons in their stomachs, and ribbons and strings can lead to entanglement, causing death.”
“I think the world will benefit more from this ban, not individual beaches,” Bartlett said. “It has highly been investigated that a lot of marine life suffers from plastic, whether it is ingestion, suffocation or getting stuck in the loops of plastic can holders.”
Instead of banning balloons altogether, the city of Redondo Beach decided to ban the release of Mylar helium balloons, including helium balloons with or without a weight attached.
“I personaly think it is a huge step toward having cleaner beaches and oceans,” Redondo Union High School senior Mark Marolda said. “Although, I think there should be a better alternative to plastic straws because paper straws always break.”
These new laws follow Redondo’s path to a cleaner and environmentally friendly city. Last year, the town passed a no smoking in public ordinance along with the banning of leaf blowers in public.
“I think the ban will improve our commuity by helping us limit pollution,” Redondo Beach resident and Costa senior Jessie Purcell. “I’m proud our community is making this change to benefit our enviroment and oceans.”
With these new laws in the place, Redondo Beach hopes to decrease the appearance of single-use plastic in the oceans and streets. Retailers and restaurants who do not comply with the new law will face consequences, according to the Redondo Beach City Council.
“From large, national chain restaurants to local boutique stores, we are seeing many businesses eager to achieve these same goals, and we are dedicated to help them achieve this,” Campbell said. “In tandem with neighboring Manhattan Beach and now Redondo Beach, we are part of a regional effort to eliminate these single-use materials from the waste stream and protect the health of our oceans.”
Sustainable: Costa Sophomores Lauren Kay (left) and Dylan Kircher walk around Costa with reusable water bottles in hand. Redondo Beach City Council banned single-use plastic materials on Jan. 7. Photo By Grace Dietz
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