The City of Irvine is invested in our community and believe it’s essential to act on topics critically important to our environment such as plastic waste reduction.​ Single-use plastics contribute significantly to pollution, affecting terrestrial and marine ecosystems, endangering wildlife, driving greenhouse gas emissions that exacerbate climate change, and posing risks to human health.

A solution to eliminate single-use plastics in our City is possible through innovative and strategical collaboration with our residents, unique stakeholders, and businesses. The first drafted ordinance brought to City Council on November 28, 2023, was not passed; however, there has been an ask by City Council to move forward with more research in order to help combat our City’s emissions and lower future barriers for climate action and waste reduction.​

AB 1276

Assembly Bill (AB) 1276, signed into law on October 5, 2021, prohibits California food facilities from automatically providing single‑use foodware accessories or standard condiment items unless the consumer specifically requests them. These items, such as utensils, straws, condiment cups and packets, lids, stirrers, toothpicks, ketchup, mustard, salt, sugar, soy sauce, hot sauce, etc., must be individually requested and cannot be pre-bundled or packaged together.

Phased Implementation

  • Phase 1 (June 1, 2022)
    • All single‑use foodware accessories must be made from recyclable or compostable materials.
    • Providers cannot distribute these items unless a customer requests them
    • Food services required in this phase:
      • Dine in, third-party delivery orders, takeout orders, drive through orders
  • Phase 2 (January 1, 2023)
    • Extends Phase 1 rules to full‑service restaurants statewide 

Allowed Exceptions - Full-service restaurants may still offer single‑use foodware accessories in certain circumstances:

  • When dishwashing equipment is insufficient
  • To accommodate customers with disabilities
  • At a diner’s request for take-home containers for leftovers
  • During declared public health emergencies
  • If using disposable paper wrappers, foil, napkins, trays, or liners accepted by local recycling or composting programs 

Delivery and Drive Through Requirements:

  • Drive-through facilities and restaurants in airports must ask customers if they want accessories
  • Delivery platforms must display available single‑use accessories and only include them if the customer chooses 

Facilities Exempt - The law does not apply to:

  • Correctional facilities
  • Licensed health care centers
  • Residential care facilities
  • Public and private school cafeterias

Additional information about AB 1276 is available on the California Legislative Information website.

City Efforts to Help Make the Switch

As a part of the single-use plastic reduction efforts and in response to City Council direction, the City has created a single-use plastics alternatives list to help people, businesses, and food services reduce their plastic footprint. Please check out our Plastic Alternative Guide.

In 2024 and 2025, the City solicited feedback from food service business owners or operators in Irvine on single use plastic reduction efforts through a survey in partnership with Environmental Innovations. The survey was available in 9 languages. 

City of Irvine’s Foodware Calculator

Welcome to Irvine’s Foodware Calculator! Here, you can calculate how much money you are spending on disposable utensils, plates, bowls, cups, etc. and compare that against the potential total cost of switching to reusable items. Businesses have almost always seen a reduction in cost, long-term, when they switch from single use to reusable foodware pieces. 

 

2023 City Council Directives

At the Irvine City Council's Regular Meeting on November 28, 2023, City staff presented an all-encompassing single use plastic ban which did not pass the Council vote. From this meeting, City Council requested the following actions:

  • Directed staff to continue stakeholder and community outreach, cost impact analysis, and other measures as needed to refine the program.
  • Directed staff to narrow the scope of this ban to specific categories of single use items, conduct additional stakeholder and community outreach and return for City Council consideration.
  • Directed staff to investigate feasibility and perform additional outreach related to eliminating single use plastic and polystyrene items from City operations.
  • Directed staff to develop a communitywide education campaign to facilitate voluntary reduction in single use plastics and polystyrene items from general use, and additionally, explore the following:
    • Implementing plastic reduction measures at City Hall
    • Collaborating with Waste Management
    • Developing a list of alternative products
    • Banning of plastic straws
    • Education related to the safety of tap water
    • Banning Styrofoam from restaurants
    • Requiring use of aluminum water cans by hotels
    • Encouraging low waste by park facility users
    • Banning the release of balloons
    • Compiling a comparison chart reflecting similarities/differences between Senate Bill 54 and the City’s efforts related to plastic reduction measures

The City understands that implementing this change requires thoughtful consideration of its potential impact on the business community and wants to work closely with local businesses and other key stakeholders for a smooth transition.  

For questions, contact Sustainability@cityofirvine.org. 

Learn more about our CAAP at cityofirvine.org/climate. Learn more about City of Irvine recycling and waste laws, tips, and information at cityofirvine.org/recycling-waste.