LA Council proposes ban on single-use clone cartridges
August 14, 2024
The motion, introduced by the City Council on 13 August 2024, requests that the City Attorney, in consultation with the Bureau of Sanitation, draft the necessary ordinance to implement this ban.
In a significant step toward environmental stewardship, the City of Los Angeles is set to expand its efforts in reducing plastic waste with the introduction of a city-wide Comprehensive Plastics Reduction Program.
The program’s scope includes bans on specific single-use plastic products, the introduction of product stewardship programmes, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) initiatives targeting high-impact items. The aim is to encourage the manufacturing of durable, reusable, repairable, and recyclable products, ultimately reducing the volume of single-use plastics that contribute to the City’s waste stream.
During the Council meeting on 13 August focus was on a proposed ban on the distribution and sale of single-use clone-compatible printer cartridges. A 2021 resolution highlighted the rapid increase in the use of these cartridges, particularly those imported from foreign manufacturers. The resolution noted the alarming fact that single-use printer cartridges can take between 450 and 1,000 years to decompose in landfills, posing a long-term threat to both the environment and public health.
The City Council’s proposed ban on these cartridges aims to significantly reduce the number that end up in landfills by promoting the use of recyclable or reusable alternatives. Such a move is expected to have a beneficial impact on the City’s solid waste management efforts and reduce public exposure to hazardous materials commonly found in printer cartridges.
The motion, introduced by John S. Lee, a Councilmember of the 12th District, requests that the City Attorney, in consultation with the Bureau of Sanitation, draft the necessary ordinance to implement this ban.
If passed, Los Angeles would once again position itself at the forefront of environmental policy, setting a precedent for other cities grappling with the challenges of plastic waste management.
Los Angeles’ move to ban single-use printer cartridges is part of a growing trend seen in other regions. In 2020, the Balearic Islands implemented a similar ban, reflecting a broader European initiative to curb plastic waste by targeting high-impact products like printer cartridges.
Last month, Catalonia has also announced plans to ban single-use printer cartridges by 2025, reinforcing the momentum toward more sustainable practices in the printing industry?.
Categories : World Focus
Tags : BAN Clones Los Angeles Motion Single-use cartridges Sustainability. Environment
