UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation

Concern about plastic waste and pollution has mounted in recent years among policymakers, stakeholders, and the public as evidence of associated harms and risks mounts. In this report, we comprehensively examine the impacts of plastic waste on Los Angeles County (LAC), identify shortcomings with existing efforts to recycle plastic, discuss potential alternatives to single-use plastic in the food service sector, and identify lessons learned from policy efforts to reduce overreliance on it in other jurisdictions. We find that plastic production and waste are associated with adverse effects on the County's environment, economy, energy sector, and public health; that current recycling practices and market conditions make recycling extremely limited as a tool for mitigating these harms; and replacing single-use plastic items with reusable alternatives for food service applications would likely benefit vendors, waste management operators, and the general public.