Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year globally and less than 9% is recycled. By 2050 plastic is expected to outweigh all fish in the oceans. Much of this marine debris results from disposable plastic products, specifically single-use disposable food and beverage packaging, that have a short life span and are quickly thrown “away.” Plastic pollution implications are vast and harmful spanning its extraction through disposal. The most effective measure that reverses this and ultimately prevents ocean-bound plastic is to reduce it at the source and to stop using single-use disposable plastics.
In 2018, The Bay Foundation (TBF) partnered with ReThink Disposable, a technical assistance program of Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund, to prevent excess waste before it starts. In doing so, restaurants and other food operators cut costs and improve patrons’ dining experience. View the resources below for the results of TBF’s implementation of Clean Water Action’s ReThink Disposable in Los Angeles in 2018 and 2021.
In 2023, the City of Los Angeles launched its Reusable Foodware Microgrant Program to help advance single-use plastic reduction and assist food service establishments with their transition to reusable foodware and foodware accessories. TBF is proud to have supported the program with implementation and technical assistance alongside Clean Water Action’s ReThink Disposable and APTIM. 120 restaurants participated in reducing single-use disposables at the source and championing reuse for dine-in. Check out the video below to learn more! Are you a City of LA food service establishment interested in receiving free technical assistance, training, purchasing, delivery, and set up of reusable foodware and foodware accessories? While LASAN’s microgrant application cycle is currently closed, you can fill out the City of Los Angeles LA Sanitation & Environments’ interest form.
TBF is also a proud member of Reusable LA, a coalition of partners working to resolve LA’s plastic pollution issue by championing a reusable culture and empowering other cities to do the same.
Check out the resources below to learn more and get involved!