August 24, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Senator Allen Joined by LA City Councilmembers and Advocates in Support of Ocean Pollution Reduction Act

Senator Allen was joined today by Los Angeles City Councilmembers Bob Blumenfield and Paul Koretz at UCLA in support of SB 705, the Ocean Pollution Reduction Act. Environmental and social justice advocates who urged the legislature to pass SB 705 at the press conference included: Nancy Shrodes, Education and Outreach Manager, Heal the Bay; Aura Vasquez, Climate Justice Director, The Center for Popular Democracy; Anna Cummins, Co-Founder/Global Strategy Director, The 5 Gyres Institute; and Bonny Bentzin, Deputy Chief Sustainability Officer, UCLA.

SB 705 will prohibit food providers from dispensing takeout food in disposable, polystyrene food containers by January 1, 2020.  The legislation is modeled after the city of Santa Monica’s successful ban on the use of non-recyclable plastic disposable food service containers, which took effect in 2008.

Polystyrene, commonly known as “Styrofoam,” doesn’t decompose, but rather breaks into smaller and smaller pieces that end up in oceans and waterways, harming wildlife and leaching toxins into water. Styrene, a neurotoxin and cancer-causing chemical, migrates from foam containers into food and beverages, increasing health risks for consumers.

The Ocean Protection Council estimates that the current cost of cleaning up marine debris annually may exceed $1 billion. Nonrecycled single-use food packaging costs California families hundreds of dollars annually in hidden litter clean-up costs.  Local governments are also hard hit by these costs.

More than 100 cities and counties in California, including Santa Monica, Culver City, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, West Hollywood and San Francisco have taken a stand against polystyrene pollution by enacting local ordinances that limit its use in some way.

“We’ve reached the point where consumers and cities understand the risks and harm of polystyrene and want to shift to more sustainable and healthy alternatives,” said Senator Allen. “This statewide ban on the use of polystyrene for takeout food containers will significantly reduce the amount of waste littering our ocean and it will protect wildlife, the public health and future generations from harm.”

“This is an issue that needs both local and statewide leadership. Over the last 10 years, volunteers have picked up nearly 500,000 foam items during Heal the Bay’s beach clean ups. We call on California to continue its legacy of environmental leadership and free the state of costly and environmentally destructive foam pollution by passing SB 705,” said Nancy Shrodes of Heal the Bay.

SB 705 is supported by the Californians Against Waste, California League of Conservation Voters, Heal the Bay, Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club California and Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. The measure passed the State Senate Environmental Quality Committee and will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, May 25.

From left to right: Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Senator Ben Allen, and Councilmember Paul Koretz
Related Posts

Two Days, Two Denials: Menendez Brothers Rejected for Parole

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Erik Denied After 10-Hour Hearing; Lyle Rebuffed the Next Day Erik Menendez, convicted along with his brother in the 1989...

Rob Reiner to Attend for ‘This is Spinal Tap’ as Cinespia Wraps Summer at Hollywood Forever

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Cinespia Closes Out Summer: Fan Favorites and DJs Return to Hollywood Forever Cinespia will close out summer with four outdoor...

Amber Alert for a Critical Missing Incident: Two Foster Brothers Abducted

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Police Seek Non-Custodial Mother Jackeline Hernandez-Torres The California Highway Patrol issued a statewide Amber Alert after two foster brothers, ages...

Culver City Police Seize Ghost Gun: Suspect Arrested After Traffic Stop

August 23, 2025

August 23, 2025

Officers Uncover Untraceable Firearm With High-Capacity Magazine Police say a traffic stop near Prospect Avenue and Venice Boulevard resulted in...

Man Arrested After Burglary Report at Lionel Richie’s Beverly Hills Home

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Police Say the Singer Was Home When the Suspect Entered the Property One suspect was taken into custody early Friday...

Extreme Heat Warning Extended in L.A. County: Officials Urge Safety Precautions

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

National Weather Service Alerts Cover Valleys, Mountains, and Coastal Areas Dangerous heat is expected to persist through the weekend in...

Ex-Culver City Recreation Worker Indicted: Charged With Exploiting 7-Year-Old in Federal Case

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Prosecutors Say the Former After-School Employee Faces Child Pornography Charges Federal prosecutors say a former Culver City after-school employee has...

Jury Awards $3.8M to Man Injured by Rubber Bullet During 2020 George Floyd Protest in the Fairfax District

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Filmmaker Suffered Permanent Injuries After Being Struck by a Sheriff’s Deputy’s Round Los Angeles County must pay nearly $4 million...

LAPD Urges Possible Victims to Come Forward in Sexual Assault Case Linked to Social Media

August 22, 2025

August 22, 2025

Suspect Arrested Aug. 20 on Suspicion of Forcible Rape Los Angeles police are asking for the public’s help in identifying...

Frozen Shrimp Recall Expanded to California After Radioactive Contamination Concerns

August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Southwind Foods Adds California Shrimp Recall Tied to Possible Cesium-137 Exposure Southwind Foods, LLC is recalling select packages of frozen...

LAPD to Step Up DUI Enforcement With Weekend Checkpoints and Patrols

August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Police Plan Multiple Operations Across Los Angeles August 22-24  The Los Angeles Police Department will operate a series of DUI...

Little C by Crustacean Pop-Up Brings Back Mama An’s Street Food in Beverly Hills

August 21, 2025

August 21, 2025

Fan-Favorite Dishes Return Through Aug. 24, With the Debut of Bánh Xèo Little C by Crustacean has returned this month...

Kids Eat Free at Tender Greens Century City During Back-to-School Nights in August

August 20, 2025

August 20, 2025

Weeknight Promotion Offers Free Kids’ Meals With the Purchase of an Entrée. Families dining at Tender Greens in the Westfield...

Stoa Wine Bar & Market Debuts in Marina del Rey With Old-World Charm and California Ease

August 20, 2025

August 20, 2025

New Westside Spot Blends European Traditions, Seasonal Fare, Philosophy of Slowing Down Blending European tradition with California ease, Stoa Wine...

Two LA Culinary Icons and Friends Reunite for One-Night-Only Dinner at Marelle

August 20, 2025

August 20, 2025

Chefs Team Up With Five-Course Tasting Celebrating California Flavors  Two of Los Angeles’ most celebrated chefs will share the kitchen...