Tonight the Pasadena City Council is being presented with voting on the Polystyrene Stryofoam ban ordinance.
Styrofoam (polystyrene) food packaging such as single-use cups, plates, straws and forks is a wasteful, unhealthy, and easily-replaceable source of non-biodegradable trash.
–One of Styrofoam’s components, styrene, is a known hazardous substance that releases toxins into food when Styrofoam products are used in reheating.
–Polystyrene food packaging is lightweight, easily blown into public spaces, and very difficult to recycle.
–The City of Pasadena’s waste hauler – the Allan Company – does NOT recycle polystyrene due to its lack of value.
–Polystyrene kills wildlife and is a major source of plastic marine pollution.
–A study published in 2011 found that 71% of all the plastic flowing through the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers is polystyrene foam.
–The US EPA states that styrene can have serious impacts on human health, wildlife and the aquatic environment because the product breaks down, contaminating food and entering the food chain when ingested by marine life.
It is unclear what councilmembers are in support of the ban, but a few weeks ago the Municipal Services Committee met and was presented with very convincing evidence on the harm of polystrene Styrofoam products on our health and environment. Paul Little who is head of the Pasadena Chamber authored a letter to Mayor Tornek and Council opposed to the ban.
95 cities around California ban the use of Styrofoam/Polystrene, why is Pasadena not following the right thing to do?
There are dozens of letters from restaurants, some who I was surprised to see had written letters opposing the ban.
Here’s a list of restaurants you may want to think twice about going to or at least if you go, bring your own to go containers. But voting with your dollar will make the most impact as that is the way most businesses will change.
Does Pasadena Public Works support recycling of Styrofoam placed in the curbside blue top containers? Last I heard this was not supported. Also, it would be interesting to see what from the “recycling” is actually recycled.
I would very much like to start a list of restaurants that are in support of using alternatives to Styrofoam/polystrene.
This is a guest commentary on Pasadena Star News online.
Some restaurants that wrote letters opposing the ban on Polystrene/Styrofoam, this is by no means complete.
Alego Il Sabon – Cristal Lopez – 1308 N. Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91103
Amigo’s Restaurnt – Paul Zuniga – 1076 E. Colorado Blvd. (626) 577-1307
Andy’s Coffee Shop – Yesenia Ramirez – Owner (626) 793-0825
BC Donuts Linda Ngoy Cuff
Bib Mama’s and Papa’s Pizzeria
Big Mama’s Rib Shack –
Bonnie B’s
Burrito Express Wil Orozco (626) 296-7992
Chao Lai Thai – 680 N. Los Robles
Chapala Bakery #2 265 East Orange Grove – Luis F Hereyia
Cilantro’s Restaurant – 296 N. Allen Ave. #1, Pasadena CA (626) 396-9150
Corniccus y Taqueria Ramirez
Dena’s Burger
Dona Rosa – George Magallon
El Pollo Unico – 731 N. Lake Ave. – Anson So
El Taquito Mexicano
Garni Meat Market – Tina Khachoyan
Go Fresh Magnolian BBQ
Grandview Paalace Chinese Restaurant – Sanh Lieu
Green Street Taquria – Lauri Layr (626) 376-1622
Halsies Bisto and Bakery – CLOSED – Adi Budnono – Old Pasadena
Juan Mexican Food – 1543 E Colorado Blvd
La Caravana Salvadorian Restaurant – (626) 791-7378 – Sonia Perez
La Luce Cafe (626) 568-9696
Lee’s Hoagie House – 2269 E. Colorado Blvd (626) 577-2250
Lee’s Sandwiches – Colorado Blvd – Raul Villa
Los Primos Jose de Jesus Hernandez (626) 304-0538 951 N. Orange Grove Blvd.
Los Tacos – 1 W. California Suite #211 Pasadena, (626) 795-9291 – Fidel Leos Owner
Matsuri – Shinji Tosa – General Manager 1065 E. Green St. (626) 844-2900
Melys Pupuseria 863 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 794-1776
Mexican Restaurant ??
Midori Teriyakii and Sushi – Jae Y Lee – 93 N. Lake Ave
New Delhi Palace – Cuisine of India – Ron Sandal (626) 405-0666
On The Plaza – Tom & Francie Tate – 300 N. Lake #110, (626) 449-7625
Panos Bakery – Christian Kulradjian (818) 33102338
Pasadena Fish Market on Orange Grove
Pie ‘N Burger – Michael Osborn – Owner – 913 E. California Pasadena, CA 91106
Pizza Man Restaurant – Colorado Blvd
Pollos Puebla
Puebla Taco #2 – 1819 E. Villa St. (626) 793-1083
Puebla Tacos #3 – Casimiro Cortes
Ramirez Carniceria Pasadena, Lios R. Ramirez
Restaurant ? – Pin Hipacourt
Restaurant ? Mariam Joeng
Restaurant not named page 1
Romeo’s Pizza-
Rosarito Mexican Fast Food Restaurant – (626) 440-1640 – 2237 E. Colorado Blvd
Rstaurant? – Krikor Bogharian
Russell’s Pasadena
Sahara Restaurant – Colorado Blvd
Siagon Vietnamese Cuisine? Tenen Guang
Sierra Donuts –
Stick Station – 62 W. Union – Jordan Cusioc
Super Burger – Kevin Khe
Sushi of Naples –
Sushia – Ike Hwang
Tarantino’s – Dan Taratino – Owner (626) 796-7836
Tastees Donut & Burger – Youk Chan Be
Teriyaki Madness – Ronnie B Serna (626) 456-4277
The Kitchen – Stephanie Jensen and Stacy Kostanyan Owners
The Reyn Coffee Shop – Israel Espinosa 63 N. Lake Ave
The Slaw Dogs – Soojin Kim 720 N. Lake Ave #8
The Steer N Ale – Jason Jung
Tonny’s Restaurant – Alejando
Torine’s Cafe & Catering – 1672 E. Washington (626) 791-3585 Vartan
Vanessa’s – El Portal – Yahaira’s Cafe – Abel Raimrez – The Ramirez Bianchi Corp (626) 795-8553
Wok Master – Colorado Blvd
Yahaira’s Cafe – Armando Ramirez – Owner
With many restaurants displaying and promoting the campaign to “Rinse and Recycle” The waste in water and the lack of cost effective recycling options make it difficult to make this practical.
California Cities with Ordinances Banning the use of Polystrene and Styrofoam Products
Alameda, CA
Albany City, CA
Aliso Viejo, CA
Belmont, CA
Berkeley, CA
Burlingame, CA
Calabasas, CA
Capitola, CA
Carmel, CA
Carpenteria, CA
Dana Point, CA
Del Ray Oaks, CA
El Cerrito, CA
Emeryville, CA
Fairfax, CA
Foster City, CA
Fremont, CA
Half Moon Bay, CA
Hayward, CA
Hercules, CA
Hermosa Beach, CA
Huntington Beach, CA
Laguna Beach, CA
Laguna Hills, CA
Laguna Woods, CA
Livermore, CA
Los Altos Hills, CA
Los Angeles County, CA
Los Gatos, CA
Malibu, CA
Manhattan Beach, CA
Marin County, CA
Marina, CA
Menlo Park, CA
Millbrae, CA
Mill Vallet, CA
Monterey City, CA
Monterey County, CA
Morgan Hill, CA
Newport Beach, CA
Novato, CA
Oakland, CA
Orange, CA
Orange County, CA
Pacific Grove, CA
Pacifica, CA
Palo Alto, CA
Pittsburg, CA
Pleasenton, CA
Portola Valley, CA
Redwood City, CA
Richmond, CA
Riverbank, CA
Salinas, CA
San Bruno, CA
San Carlos, CA
San Clemente, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
San Juan Capistrano, CA
San Leandro, CA
San Mateo City, CA
San Mateo County, CA
San Rafael, CA
Santa Clara City, CA
Santa Clara County, CA
Santa Cruz City, CA
Santa Cruz County, CA
Santa Monica, CA
Sausalito, CA
Scotts Valley, CA
Seaside, CA
South San Francisco, CA
Sonoma County, CA
Sunnyvale, CA
Ventura County, CA
Watsonville, CA
West Hollywood, CA
Yountville, CA
Don’t let tonight be an example of how special interest control and influence government and policies.
——-Pasadena City Council and Staff Email Addresses—–
ttornek@cityofpasadena.net
mmcaustin@cityofpasadena.net
awilson@cityofpasadena.net
MGo@cityofpasadena.net
mjomsky@cityofpasadena.net
vflores@cityofpasadena.net
gsilva@cityofpasadena.net
smadison@cityofpasadena.net
thampton@cityofpasadena.net
gmasuda@cityofpasadena.net
vgordo@cityofpasadena.net
jkennedy@cityofpasadena.net
——More info————
Lobbyists for DART Industries are doing everything possible to stall, stop and kill this community-driven effort. Why? They have successfully stopped progress on this issue on the state level by buying off politicians (DART gives hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions to CA state legislators on both sides of the aisle, annually), so the next step is to stem the tide of local cities moving on the issue.
The DART team is behind the dishonest posters that have appeared in restaurants across town which misinform residents that polystyrene will be recycled if it is taken home, washed off, and then placed in the blue bin. Not only does this encourage residents to waste water and money, it is NOT even true. After two years misinformation, obfuscation, and fear mongering, it is time to send the industry lobbyists back to Sacramento.
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