Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recycling Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves resolutions urging recycled content in beverage containers, targets Coca‑Cola
Summary
The council unanimously approved two resolutions asking city departments to review vending contracts and urging beverage manufacturers, notably Coca‑Cola, to increase recycled plastic content and support collection programs.
The Los Angeles City Council approved two resolutions April 4 urging increased use of recycled content in beverage containers and asking city departments to favor products containing recycled material in vending contracts.
Rick Best, policy director for Californians Against Waste, told the council the city’s diversion rate was about 47 percent the previous year and urged action to help plastics markets. Best praised the city’s prior influence on manufacturers after a resolution prompted Miller to commit to using recycled content in a new plastic beer bottle. He said Coca‑Cola holds roughly 43 percent of the beverage market and has used less than 1 percent recycled plastic in recent years; the resolutions ask the company to increase recycled content and support expanded collection efforts.
Council member Galanter introduced the motion; Council member Ridley Thomas was listed as a co‑sponsor. The council opened the roll and recorded 11 ayes on both items; both measures were approved.
The resolutions direct relevant city departments to review vending and procurement contracts to encourage or require recycled content where practicable, and to urge beverage manufacturers to support greater collection and market development for recycled plastics. The motions were supported by the city’s recycling advocacy groups and will be forwarded to procurement staff for implementation review.
