LAX Bans Single-Use Plastic Water Bottle Sales

One of the world’s busiest airports, Los Angeles International (known by its airport code LAX) has banned sales of single-use plastic water bottles.

On June 30, LAX officials shared on Facebook that a ban on single-use plastic bottle sales in the airport would take place immediately. Officials recommend that visitors bring reusable alternatives and use the water bottle refill stations located in the various terminals.

The ban follows a previous policy, adopted in 2021, to phase out single-use water bottles and reduce plastic waste at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), which includes LAX and Van Nuys Airports. The policy is part of LAWA’s Sustainability Action Plan (SAP), which includes targeting a zero-waste future.

“Eliminating single-use plastic water bottles is the right thing to do for our airports, our communities and our environment,” said Justin Erbacci, CEO of LAWA, as reported by KTLA.

According to Erbacci, the LAWA Board of Airport Commissioners plan to make the airports zero waste by 2045.

LAWA reported in its single-use plastics water bottle phase-out policy that more than 9 million plastic water bottles were sold at LAX in 2019 alone, averaging more than 24,000 bottles each day. 

“Moving away from single-use plastic water bottles and towards reusables reduces plastic waste and pollution to help passengers reduce their environmental impact while traveling,” LAWA officials said in the policy document.

The ban of plastic water bottle sales includes vending machines and events happening at the airport. The ban does not extend to other bottled drinks outside of water, nor does it impact bottled water from flight services on aircrafts. Water will still be available in single-use cartons, glass bottles and recyclable aluminum bottles.

LAX is the second airport in the world to enact a ban on plastic water bottle sales, following San Francisco International Airport (SFO) which banned plastic water bottles in 2019. In 2021, SFO’s policy extended to include other types of beverages as well.

The ban is one part of LAWA’s sustainability plan, which also includes net-zero carbon emissions from LAWA operations by 2045, 100% renewable electricity use by 2045 and no drinking water used for non-potable purposes.