Plastic Panic: Industry Feels the Squeeze as Ban Proposal Gains Traction

The future of single-use plastic in Irvine will be determined at the next City Council meeting. Some industry groups are lobbying to shape that future. Image credit The Vine

This week, many Irvine residents received a text message with a stark warning: "BANNING BOTTLED WATER WILL HARM IRVINE." The text proceeded to alert Irvinites that "A bottled water ban in Irvine will jeopardize local jobs, harm small businesses, and curtail your choices."

The text, sent by the American Beverage Association (ABA), urged recipients to click on a link to express their concerns to Irvine City Council members regarding a single-use plastic ban. The proposed ban, which would include plastic foodware (takeout containers, utensils, and straws), plastic water bottles, and mylar balloons, will be phased in starting in 2024 if approved by Irvine City Council this month.

At the Sustainability Commission’s meeting on November 8th, the group recommended that Irvine City Council approve the Plastic Waste Reduction Ordinance. Many residents were confused by the ABA’s influence campaign encouraging residents to tell the Irvine City Council to do the opposite.

“I thought, ‘How in the world does banning bottled water affect small businesses?,’” said text recipient and Irvine resident Debra Goldman. “It didn’t make sense to me so I just ignored it, but I wondered how they got my phone number.”

The ABA, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit industry advocacy group, spends tens of millions of dollars each year to support the beverage industry. Inquiries directed to ABA Vice President of Media and Public Affairs William Dermody were redirected to ABA spokesperson Steven Maviglio, who issued a statement that did not address the size, scope, or cost of its campaign to influence Irvine residents.

Maviglio’s statement asserted, “A ban would negatively impact local jobs, restrict consumer choice and most importantly it will not help with the important goal of reducing the use of plastic.”

Several California cities, including Berkeley, San Francisco, Santa Monica, Imperial Beach, Goleta, Oceanside, and Manhattan Beach have approved single-use plastic bans since 2019. These bans are gaining widespread adoption as municipalities realize the limits of plastic recycling. While many plastic products bear recycling labels, only 10% of plastic waste is successfully recycled according to the EPA. The overwhelming majority of discarded plastic ends up in our oceans and waterways, where it is broken down into microplastics and harms wildlife.

“At some point, we have to stop wishcycling,” said Director of ESG (Environment, Social & Governance) at Tru Earth, Anita Spiller over Zoom. “We can’t just put things in our recycling bin and hope. The time for hoping is over. The time for action is now.”

Organizations like the Surfrider Foundation have championed the cause by educating communities about sustainability. As outlined in the Plastic Waste Reduction Ordinance’s Staff Report, “Staff has engaged the Surfrider Foundation regarding history of current bans, feasibility of City impact, research and data finding, and development of outreach program.”

Richard Busch, co-chair for the North Orange County chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, asserts that the ABA is apprehensive that a multitude of cities will follow Irvine's lead if the ordinance is approved. Busch feels plastic producers should take accountability for the adverse impact of the products they create.

“I compare it to the gas industry and lead gasoline,” said Busch. “Eventually they found lead everywhere and said, ‘You know what guys, let’s stop gasoline from having lead in it.’”

Busch emphasized that plastic is now similarly ubiquitous.

“You can’t go from one pole to the other on the planet without finding plastic even in snow and rain,” Busch said. “From the top of Everest to the bottom of the Mariana Trench.”

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) has expressed concern about the potential impact of Irvine’s proposed plastic ban on consumer choice. It also cited a study by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) that estimated “that alternatives to plastic beverage containers would produce about 60 percent more greenhouse gas emissions – a major contributor to climate change.” The ACC is partially funded by the National Association of Manufacturers which lobbies against restrictions on the oil and gas industry. Busch points out that the IBWA’s concern is contrary to the water bottle business model.

“It makes me laugh,” said Busch. “Are they complaining about the bottle going away or the water? Last I checked, their product was the water, not the bottle.”

To find out whether Irvine City Council passes the Plastic Waste Reduction Ordinance, tune in to the next city council meeting on Tuesday, November 28.