Stay up to date with the latest news and information about sustainability legislation in the City of Irvine. Click on the titles below to learn more.
Assembly Bill (AB) 1276, signed into law on October 5, 2021, prohibits California food facilities from automatically providing single‑use foodware accessories or standard condiment items unless the consumer specifically requests them. These items, such as utensils, straws, condiment cups and packets, lids, stirrers, toothpicks, ketchup, mustard, salt, sugar, soy sauce, hot sauce, etc., must be individually requested and cannot be pre-bundled or packaged together.
For more details, visit cityofirvine.gov/ab1276.
In January 2024, the State of California banned the sale of new small off-road engine-powered garden equipment (SORE) (Open in new window), such as leaf blowers, lawn mowers, string trimmers, hedge trimmers, and small chainsaws.
In December 2023, Irvine City Council passed Ordinance No 23-25 (Open in new window), which enacted a phased-out approach to the use of SORE gas equipment beginning July 1, 2024. As of January 1, 2025:
Gas-powered leaf blowers are banned for use in Irvine by residents and small businesses.
Gas-powered landscaping equipment, including leaf blowers, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and chainsaws, are banned for use in Irvine by large businesses.
In January 2026, gas-powered landscaping equipment will be banned for residents and small businesses.
For more details, visit cityofirvine.gov/lawnequipmentban.
On January 27, 2026, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved the Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) Agreement, which replaces the Waste Disposal Agreement (WDA) effective July 1, 2026.
The WISE Agreement ensures participating cities, including Irvine, continue to receive priority access to Orange County landfills and competitive disposal rates. It also establishes a new 10-year agreement through June 30, 2036.
Orange County Waste & Recycling did not involve any of the 34 Orange County cities or special districts in planning and rolling out these costly programs. However, while this is a real cost increase, the City has limited alternatives given the County’s control of regional landfill infrastructure. Rejecting the agreement would actually cost the City even more. Learn more about Orange County’s landfills (Open in new window).
For more details, visit the Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) Agreement.