Volunteers from UCLA and USC found over 1,000 pieces of polystyrene foam on Venice Beach
Last month, CALPIRG Student volunteers from UCLA and USC spent a Sunday afternoon cleaning up Venice Beach. Among the trash, they found over 1,000 pieces of polystyrene foam. They’re now calling on the Los Angeles City Council to ban the use of foam food ware citywide.
Polystyrene foam, commonly referred to as StyrofoamTM, is among the worst forms of plastic pollution. It is difficult to recycle and crumbles easily, which allows it to easily enter waterways and pollute them for centuries.
Over 120 Californian cities have already restricted expanded polystyrene products, including the unincorporated communities in Los Angeles County. Early this year, the L.A. City Council voted to ban foam at city facilities, but it continues to be used in restaurants and businesses. The students want the Council to pass an ordinance banning it by the end of this year.
Besides foam, plastic bags and cigarette butts were among the most common types of trash the students noticed.
Much of our plastic pollution comes from things we don’t need and have known for a long time we could do without, like foam cups and takeout containers. It’s time for Los Angeles to ban polystyrene foodware.
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