Municipal Services to Consider Giving Customers the Option of Rejecting Plastic Utensils With Take-Out and Pickup Orders

Pasadena could soon give customers the option of receiving paper napkins, plastic knives, spoons, and forks when they order take-out or delivery. 

At 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, the City Council’s Municipal Services Committee will finalize a recommendation for the City Council to develop an ordinance that would have customers make an affirmative request for these items — aka accessory food service ware — when they call in their orders or take out food items from a restaurant or food service provider. 

Further, if customers don’t ask for them, restaurant staff shouldn’t include these items with their orders. 

The Department of Public Works came up with the proposal after noting that “billions of unused disposable food service ware accessories,” including utensils, straws and condiment packets, are thrown away each year in the U.S. 

This type of “zero-use” trash clogs landfills, pollutes streets and waterways, and adds to the glut of non-recyclable plastic production, states a report to the City Council.  

With restaurants relying heavily on take-out and delivery orders for revenue, the report said most businesses currently provide disposable eating utensils, even when customers don’t ask for them. As a result, these items get thrown away without being used, since customers would normally eat in their homes where they have their own reusable utensils.

“Moving to an on-request model reduces waste and saves businesses money: it is a win-win for establishments, their patrons and the city,” the report states. 

In the report, Public Works recommends the council direct the city attorney to prepare a draft for the proposed ordinance within 60 days. 

Members of the public may access Tuesday’s Municipal Services Committee meeting through http://pasadena.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=9 or www.pasadenamedia.org. 

Comments may be sent by email to vflores@cityofpasadena.net or through www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment.