Polystyrene Ordinance

Ordinance Updates

On January 17, 2023, the Oxnard City Council considered and adopted Ordinance No. 3022, which prohibits the distribution of expanded polystyrene food containers and products at restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, mobile food trucks/vehicles/food vendors, street and sidewalk vendors, and outdoor food sales and other businesses. The Ordinance was introduced at the City Council meeting of January 3, 2023. 

Proposed Polystyrene Ordinance Information

The City of Oxnard is proposing an ordinance to regulate Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), commonly known as Styrofoam. EPS, which is a form of polystyrene, is a petroleum-based lightweight plastic material that can be formed into many different products. The material is used for disposable, single-use food service containers, also referred to as food service ware, which comes in many different forms such as plates, cups, bowls, trays and lidded containers, known as clam shells. The adoption of this ordinance would help the City meet goals of its Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP).

EPS is frequently used by restaurants and food establishments, including mobile food trucks/vehicles/food vendors, street and sidewalk vendors and outdoor food sales, as containers for take-out food orders or to bring home leftover food after dining. It is also commonly used as packaging materials for various products that are manufactured in Oxnard and distributed across the country.  

The City’s Community Services, Public Safety, Housing & Development  Committee considered elements of a conceptual EPS Ordinance on February 22, 2022.  Staff have been working with Council members Lopez and Teran who are interested in hearing from local businesses regarding their feedback on conceptual elements of the EPS Ordinance. 

The proposed ordinance will outline the types of materials that will be regulated, which businesses will be subject to regulation, penalty structure for noncompliance, and a timeline for implementation.

Community Meetings

Three community meeting were held in the month of September (September 19th, September 21st, and September 26th) to gather input from business owners, discuss the City’s proposed ordinance, and outline a possible implementation schedule. The final meeting was held on Zoom and was recorded. You may access the video HERE if you have trouble viewing it below: