Episode 14: Reducing Plastic Pollution in Oakland

Everyday Climate Champions

In this episode, we discuss proposed legislation to drastically reduce plastic pollution in Oakland, CA. As demand decreases for fossil fuels as a power source, we're seeing that the production of plastics is actually *increasing*. But California is pushing back. Oakland is working to become the next city to limit food and beverage containers currently choking our San Francisco Bay. As a member of Reusable Oakland, our guest explains the proposed city ordinance, why we need it, and the personal story of why he works so passionately on this issue. Guest: Kwok Chan, co-chair of Climate Reality Bay Area's Alameda County Policy Squad See a photo of our guest at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mKShqSuyvkox1NPsoqje5Wsq5qVLsjfN/view?usp=sharing Great Guest Quote: “We think we can participate actively in plastic waste reduction by limiting the use of disposable single-use food service ware.” Host: Dalya Massachi Transcript HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F8ZFL4Rd-muJxau1EvgR-wsE8Z6RbeXs5Wl3VYTehzw/edit?usp=drive_link Related Websites: Climate Reality Bay Area’s Alameda County Policy Action Squad’s email newsletter signup: [e-mail] Stop Waste’s Model Legislation on Food Service Packaging Reduction and Reuse: https://www.stopwaste.org/resource/stopwaste-model-ordinance-for-food-service-packaging-reduction-and-reuse Environmental Protection Agency list of high-priority toxic chemicals: https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/ongoing-and-completed-chemical-risk-evaluations-under United Nations Environment Programme document on marine litter and plastic pollution: https://www.unep.org/resources/pollution-solution-global-assessment-marine-litter-and-plastic-pollution The Ecology Center can help you reuse your containers by refilling them with household products. They also list other refill shops around the Bay Area: https://ecologycenter.org/store/. One of these shops is Simple, featured in Episode 6 of the Everyday Climate Champions Podcast Monthly Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline Cleanup (Oakland): https://www.climaterealitybayarea.org/chapter-events/saturday-bay-clean-up-sjr5w-mbkmz We LOVE listener feedback! Share your thoughts and insights by taking this brief survey:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdWtyEkf8meN01BVOEgOJ_pWYxkha5EiV5Po2alSbvc_IzyEA/viewform Please share this podcast with a few friends, family, or colleagues. Remember to follow this podcast to find out when new episodes get released! Contact Us: Do you know a Bay Area-based Everyday Climate Champion? We’d love to interview them! Get in touch: [e-mail] Website: https://www.climaterealitybayarea.org/eccpodcast The Climate Reality Project Bay Area Chapter catalyzes local solutions to the climate crisis in every corner of the San Francisco Bay Area. We work together to spark urgent action and rapid adoption of solutions to the climate crisis. As Climate Reality founder and Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore says, “Solving the climate crisis is within our grasp, but we need people like you to stand up and act.” To learn more, visit: https://www.ClimateRealityBayArea.org Podcast Production Team: Executive Producer/Editor: Dalya Massachi; Audio Engineers: Stephen Dillaro, Martin Sanchez, Trevor Skerbe; Co-Hosts/Researchers: George Dy, Ellisa Feinstein, Isabella Genereaux, Sean Mendelson, Hasini Parepalli; Logo Designer: Gabriela Vargas Keywords: #climate#climatechange#climatecrisis#climateEmergency#EverydayClimateChampions#climatepodcast #ReusableOakland #stopwaste #plasticpollution #plasticfoodware #reduceplasticpollution #oaklandreusablefoodware #plasticcrisis