In 2015, City Council passed an ordinance banning plastic single-use carryout bags. In 2021, the Council repealed its single-use plastic bag regulations to instead follow state law adopted in 2016, which is applicable to more types of establishments. (See “California” for details.)

In 2018, the City passed an ordinance banning businesses from selling or providing polystyrene (A.K.A. Styrofoam) and only allowing single-use foodware to be provided upon request. Single-use plastic foodware items include cups, bowls, plates, trays, cartons, clamshell containers, cup lids, utensils (forks, knives, spoons, and sporks), chopsticks, straws, and stirrers. As of Jan. 1, 2023, plastic condiment cups and packets were added to the list above, and may be provided to customers only upon request.

On October 22, 2022, the South Lake Tahoe City Council updated the City’s plastic waste ordinance to minimize the potential for single-use plastic water bottles from entering our waste stream and from contributing to the climate crisis. In 2023, the ordinance applied to the City and to City-owned and permitted locations and activities. On April 24, 2024, the ordinance will prohibit retail sale or distribution of any single-use plastic bottled water under one gallon. Bottled water is considered any product that contains water as the sole ingredient. While non-plastic alternatives do not violate the ordinance, the City encourages refilling with Tahoe Tap instead of promoting single-use alternatives.

The League used its litter data to successfully push for each of these local litter prevention policies.

In 2016, California adopted a single-use carryout bag ban (SB 270). Customers cannot receive free single-use plastic carryout bags from grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, and convenience stores/food marts/liquor stores. Instead, these stores may sell reusable plastic bags made with recycled content or recycled paper bags, and must charge at least 10 cents per bag.

In 2018, California passed a law (AB 1884) prohibiting full-service restaurants from providing a single-use plastic straw to a customer unless requested. In 2021, AB 1276 added a prohibition on restaurants and third-party food delivery platforms (e.g. Door Dash) from providing specific single-use foodware accessories and condiments unless requested by the customer: utensils, chopsticks, condiment cups and packets, straws, stirrers, splash sticks, and cocktail sticks; condiments packets include single-use packets of ketchup, mustard, hot sauce, salsa, soy sauce, sugar, and salt.

In June 2022, SB 54 passed requiring all packaging in the state to be recyclable or compostable by 2032. In the case of expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam), that number needs to reach 25% by 2025 or else it will be banned. It is best to prepare by getting rid of polystyrene now.

Despite no legal requirements in Nevada, there are plenty of affordable, compliant and environmentally friendly alternatives out there. Please use the downloadable resources above to help you with best practices and to find alternatives to plastics.