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1. When does this ban go into effect?

The ban will go into effect July 1, 2021

Food & Beverage Providers that receive a Financial Hardship or Practical Difficulty Exemption will remain exempt from the regulation until July 1, 2022

2. Who does this ban affect?

Food & Beverage Providers- any person located within the City that provides prepared food or beverages for public consumption including, but not limited to, any store, supermarket, delicatessen, restaurant, shop, caterer, or mobile food vendor.

Examples for alternatives can be found our EPS Ban Guide

3. What does the ban do?

Prohibits any food or beverage vendor from distributing expanded polystyrene. This includes, but is not limited to: 

• dine-in orders, 
• to-go orders, and 
• food or beverage products packaged in the Ventura that do not meet the ordinance exemptions.

Prohibits any retailer from selling or otherwise providing any expanded polystyrene product which is not wholly encapsulated. For instance, coolers made only from expanded polystyrene are banned but plastic coolers that have expanded polystyrene sealed within the plastic container are allowed.

4. What types of expanded polystyrene (EPS) products are prohibited by the ban?

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Foam cups, plates, clamshells, bowls, trays, etc.
• Foam coolers that are not wholly encapsulated by another material

5. What are some exemptions?

• Foods prepared or packaged outside the City then sold within the City. For example, an EPS egg carton could be sold at a grocery store, but an EPS meat tray packaged at that same grocery store would not be allowed. The grocery store would have to pack the meat in a non-EPS tray.
• Products made from expanded polystyrene which are wholly encapsulated or encased by a more durable material. Examples include surfboards, life preservers, and craft supplies which are wholly encapsulated or encased by a more durable material, and coolers encased in hard plastic.
• Financial Hardship or Practical Difficulty Exemption. Applications are available on the City website, and reviewed by the Public Works Director.
• Public Health and Safety Exemption. Applications are available on the City website and reviewed by the Public Works Director.

6. Are EPS products much cheaper than the alternatives?

Not generally. See a comparison guide for pricing examples on EPS and alternative products available on www.webstaurantstore.com. The cheapest alternative products can be cheaper than EPS, around the same price, or up to around four cents more expensive per unit. Based on staff research, the increase in cost is roughly $0.01 per unit.