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.

--Affordable, safe alternatives exist.

Over 90 California cities and counties have already adopted local policies banning polystyrene and requiring the use of recyclable or compostable alternatives. Examples include the cities of Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, Dana Point, Newport Beach, Ojai, San Luis Obispo and Oakland.

BY SIGNING THIS PETITION, I AM URGING THE CITY OF PASADENA TO JOIN THE GROWING NUMBER OF CITIES IN PHASING OUT SINGLE-USE STYROFOAM (POLYSTYRENE) AND REQUIRING THE USE OF HEALTHIER RECYCLABLE/COMPOSTABLE ALTERNATIVES.