Plastics Reduction

The Natural Resources and Environmental Commission has formed an Ad Hoc Committee to assess local businesses' awareness of plastic reduction efforts. As part of this initiative, the Sustainability Division is conducting a survey to understand business owners' knowledge and compliance with single-use plastic reduction practices. Your input is valuable in helping us enhance resources and support for businesses as we work together towards more sustainable practices. Please participate in the survey by following the link below.

Complete the South Pasadena Single-Use Plastic Reduction Business Survey

Background:

On October 5, 2021, the California Legislature enacted Assembly Bill (“AB”) 1276 which prohibits a food facility, for on-premises dining or when using a third-party food delivery platform, from providing any single-use foodware accessory or standard condiment packaged for single use to a consumer unless requested by the consumer. The new law defines a “single-use foodware accessory” as utensils, chopsticks, condiments cups and packets, straws, and stirrers that are used once and then discarded.

AB 1276 also prohibits single-use foodware accessories from being bundled or packaged in a way that prohibits the consumer from taking only the item they want. AB 1276 does not apply to health care facilities, residential care facilities, and public and private school cafeterias. A food facility may ask a drive-through consumer if the consumer wants a single-use foodware accessory if the single-use foodware accessory is necessary for the consumer to consume ready-to-eat food, or to prevent spills of or safely transport ready-to-eat food.