WIN: AB1276 passes to help eliminate single-use plastics from take-out and delivery orders #SkipTheStuff

Update:

Thank you for helping pass AB1276! We now have a policy in place that requires that restaurants and online food delivery platforms list the accessories they provide so that customers can choose only what they need. This will help eliminate millions of tons of single-use foodware from entering the waste stream. Local jurisdictions are creating their own implementation strategies and CEC is working with the City of Goleta in the hopes that they will include an EPS (Styrofoam) ban in their plan.

Original Alert:

What’s the Problem?

Single-use foodware is a huge and growing portion of the waste stream entering landfills and incinerators, and polluting city streets and waterways. In the U.S. 561 billion disposable food service items are used every year, resulting in 4.9 million tons of waste. Americans use more than 36 billion utensils and as much as 142 billion straws each year. Most restaurants provide these accessories for take-out meals even if the customer doesn’t need them.

What’s the Solution?

The solution is simple. Restaurants need to ask first. Their default action should be to not provide accessories for takeout or delivery unless the customer requests them. This saves restaurants money and reduces waste. Most of us have all the foodware accessories we need, right at home. You can prevent the waste by exercising your right to #SkipTheStuff.

We Need New legislation.

Personal action can only do so much. While existing law prohibits a full-service restaurant from providing single-use straws unless requested by the customer, it does not extend this rule to utensils, condiments, and other single-use items. Assembly Bill No. 1276 would prohibit restaurants or third-party food delivery platforms from providing single-use items unless directly requested by the customer or if it is a necessity for protecting public health. Voluntary action by restaurants and delivery companies is helpful, but every year new restaurants and online ordering apps launch without the “upon request” option. This policy requires that online ordering and food delivery platforms list the accessories provided by the restaurant so customers can choose only what they need, without unnecessary extras.

Take action! Tell Senator Limón and Assemblymember Bennett to pass #SkipTheStuff legislation.

Make it clear that you want restaurants, food delivery apps, and online delivery platforms to provide foodware accessories only if requested by the customer. This solution is simple, saves restaurants money, and reduces unnecessary waste! We support local, small businesses and urge you to do the same.

April 16, 2021

Dear Senator Limón and Assemblymember Bennett,

​Every year, billions of unused straws, utensils, napkins, condiment packets, and other accessories are included in take-out and delivery orders and just thrown away. Single-use foodware is a huge and growing portion of the waste stream entering landfills and incinerators, and polluting city streets and waterways. In the US, 561 billion disposable food service items are used every year, resulting in 4.9 million tons of waste. Restaurants often provide these accessories for take-out meals even if the customer doesn’t need them. The solution is simple. Restaurants need to ask first.

Their default action should be to not provide accessories for takeout or delivery unless the customer requests them. It’s a simple solution that saves restaurants money and reduces waste. Voluntary action by restaurants and delivery companies is insufficient.

New restaurants and online ordering apps continually launch without the “upon request” option. It's clear that we need a legislative solution.

We are writing to request that you please support California Assembly Bill 1276. The policy requires that restaurants and online food delivery platforms list the accessories they provide so that customers can choose only what they need. This could help eliminate millions of tons of single-use foodware from entering the waste stream. Thank you for helping us keep single-use plastic out of our landfills and the environment!

Want to do more? Call the offices of Senator Limón and Assemblymember Bennet and ask them to support #SkiptheStuff

• Senator Limón: (916) 651-4019, (805) 965-0862

• Assembly member Bennett: (916) 319-2037, (805) 564-1649

Skip the Stuff is a national campaign launched through UPSTREAM’s National Reuse Network. For more information, visit: bit.ly/skipthestuff