Pasadena Polystyrene Ban

The Surfrider Foundation South Bay and West LA/Malibu Chapters both supported a polystyrene ban for Pasadena. They sent in letters to city officials and testified at city council meetings. Polystyrene is a common item found at local beach cleanups and the main form collected is expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam. Mistakingly called Styrofoam by many people, EPS foam is used for food service ware and other items such as disposable coolers.

According to the ordinance, no food provider shall distribute or sell any polystyrene food service ware in conjunction with the sale of prepared food or beverages at any location within the City of Pasadena.  The ordinance will also prohibit anyone from distributing or selling prepared food or beverages in any polystyrene food service ware at City facilities that have been rented, leased or are otherwise being used with permission of the City.

Retail sale of most disposable polystyrene items is also banned per the ordinance: No person, vendor, business or event promoter may sell, rent or otherwise provide any polystyrene product which is not wholly encapsulated or encased within a more durabls .material, except as exempted herein. This specifically includes, but is not limited to, cups, plates, bowls, clamshells and other products primarily for food service use, as well as polystyrene coolers and ice chests.

The ordinance also bars any person from using or distributing polystyrene food service ware at City-sponsored events, activities and City meetings open to the public. This prohibition shall apply to the function organizers, agents of the organizers, city contractors, and food providers. The City, its departments, its city contractors, agents, and employees acting in their official capacity, shall also not purchase, acquire or distribute for public use any polystyrene coolers or polystyrene food service ware including cup-lids, straws, or utensils.