O’Farrell Leads Committee Vote to Ban Oil and Gas Drilling, Expand Organic Waste Disposal in Los Angeles

Actions build on pioneering efforts to build a more sustainable city

LOS ANGELES — Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, the chair of the Los Angeles City Council’s Energy, Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and River committee, today led unanimous votes that move the City forward on two major environmental initiatives: the banning of oil and gas drilling sites in Los Angeles, and a dramatic expansion of the City’s efforts to dispose of organic waste.

“Families, no matter where they happen to live, deserve to breathe clean air, have safe neighborhoods, and an opportunity for a healthy life, free from the harmful impacts of dirty energy,” said Councilmember O’Farrell. “Today, we are sending a clear message to Big Oil that the City of Los Angeles will no longer tolerate oil and gas extraction.”

O’Farrell led the committee in approval of a report from the Department of City Planning that moves Los Angeles one step closer to prohibiting new oil and gas extraction, as well as making existing extraction activities a nonconforming use in all zones. O’Farrell also moved to create quarterly reports that will ensure the City remains on track to complete an amortization study that will determine how to phase out oil and gas wells. This report, and a draft ordinance codifying the policy, now goes to the Council’s PLUM (Planning, Land Use and Management) committee.

Additionally, O’Farrell led a unanimous vote that moves the City closer to expanding its organic waste disposal program. This past summer, Los Angeles already increased the number of households participating in the existing program from 18,000 to 40,000 households. By the end of the calendar year, 750,000 households will be enrolled in the City’s organic waste disposal efforts. O’Farrell’s committee requested an ordinance that would create a program for all single-family residential, multifamily residential and commercial properties that participate in the City’s “three bin” system. This action would move Los Angeles into alignment with State regulations outlined in SB 1383, and now goes to the full City Council for consideration.

The committee also heard a multi-agency report focused on water conservation, infrastructure, and investments for the City of Los Angeles and the region at large. As the West grapples with water scarcity, O’Farrell has prioritized efforts to conserve water, fight the climate crisis, and save taxpayer dollars for hardworking Angelenos.