LA City Council to phase out single-use plastics at city facilities, events

LA plastics phase out

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously Wednesday (April 27, 2022) to begin phasing out single-use plastics from city facilities and city-sponsored events. The city will also continue to take steps toward potentially banning polystyrene products such as Styrofoam.   “Our future in Los Angeles is plastics-free,” Councilman Mitch O’Farrell said Wednesday.  Watch video at…

Undergraduate Student Government to expand sustainability initiatives

USG Sustainability Meeting Plastic Pollution

The Undergraduate Student Government hopes to expand and progress on their sustainability initiatives in the 2022-23 year by advocating for recycling bins to be implemented on the Row and calling for a ban on single-use plastics.  One of the sustainability projects USG advocated for over the 2021-22 year was talking to University administration about the…

L.A. County restricts single-use plastics in unincorporated areas

Single Use Plastic Water Bottles

Los Angeles County on Tuesday became the largest government entity to restrict single-use plastic food ware items from restaurants, stores, hospital cafeterias and food trucks. County supervisors finalized an ordinance that will require single-use food ware to be compostable or recyclable, unless it’s a full-service, dine-in eatery, in which case it needs to be reusable.…

President Folt outlines ‘moonshots’ including sustainability goals

USC President Folt State of the University Address

In her first in-person State of the University speech, she lays out her blueprint for the university’s future while addressing key issues from the past. “A university doesn’t get to rewrite its history, but we do have the power to telegraph to the world who we are and what we aspire to be, now and…

USC Dornsife students and alumni aim to cut off the plastic strangle-hold

Dornsife is combatting plastics pollution

The world now produces nearly 400 million tons of plastic pollution every year, and each piece takes some 400 years to break down. Less than 10% is recycled. Clearly, we have a serious problem. But what do we do about it? Plastic protects nearly everything we buy, it’s the building material for home goods, and…

Drop by drop, water refill stations put plastic bottles in their place

Plastic Bottles are out with Josh-Rebello and Nicholas Belgrave

Those single-use bottles are on their way out as water refill stations proliferate on USC’s University Park and Health Sciences campuses. Water refill stations, also known as hydration stations, are a sophisticated upgrade. They dispense cool water through a high-grade filter. Each one represents a significant investment. The installed units can cost upwards of $2,000.…