The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday unanimously passed an ordinance to make disposable utensils and napkins at restaurants available only by request from customers.
The ordinance goes to Mayor Eric Garcetti for approval, but he said he supported the ordinance during his State of the City address on Monday. At that time, he also called for a ban on plastic foam.
If approved, the measure would go into effect for restaurants with more than 26 employees on Nov. 15 and for all food and beverage facilities in one year – on April 22.
The city claimed the aim of the ordinance is to hold down waste as well as to save restaurants money by reducing their use of plastic utensils and disposable napkins. However, eliminating self-serve napkin and utensil dispensers would cause restaurant workers to take on the added duty of giving out those items.
Police at Tinhorn Flats on March 31.
In somewhat of a surprise move, the city of Burbank on Wednesday morning put a red tag of condemnation on the defiant Tinhorn Flats Saloon and Grill and padlocked its doors for a second time. True to form, the owner’s son soon sawed off one of the locks and entered the restaurant that has gained attention as a symbol of small-business resistance to lockdown orders.
The owner’s son, Lucas Lepejian, earlier said he expected to be arrested after sawing off the lock, and a commanding officer at the scene said “that option is open.” But no arrests had been made by 3:30 p.m.