Episode #1

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On January 22nd, 2019, the city of Berkeley, CA made national history by unanimously voting for an ordinance that Mayor Jesse Arreguin called “the most ambitious, comprehensive legislation to reduce throw-away foodware in the United States.”

The Disposable-Free Berkeley Ordinance will require reusable dishware for dining on-site, compostable packaging and flatware for to-go orders, and a 25 cent charge on to-go cups. We interviewed the ordinance authors, UPSTREAM’s Program Director and Ecology Center’s Executive Director Martin Borque, for The Indisposable Podcast: UPSTREAM’s new podcast showcasing solutions to plastic pollution!

The victory in Berkeley proves that eliminating disposable pollution is an attainable goal city-wide. The Berkeley ordinance's requirement for restaurants to serve its dining-in customers on real and reusable is one of the key foundational tools for Throw-Away-Free Communities. Thanks to the good work of Clean Water Action, we know that they will also save money by moving to real and reusable.