From: Anaya Ertz
Sent: Saturday, April 29, 2023 1:04 PM
To: Mayor Kate <[email protected]>
Subject: Disposable Food Ware
4/29/23
Dear Mayor Colin,
My name is Anaya Ertz, and I am a freshman at Marin Academy. I am writing to you today because I am concerned about the pressing issue of the recent foodware ordinance and San Rafael's hesitancy to join.
San Rafael needs to participate because it will help save the planet for future generations, save money, and show the city's ability to innovate and change. The city needs to be more environmentally conscious, particularly around food ware. Reusables are better for the planet and safer for human health than plastic food ware. According to Mill valleys reusable food ware ordinance, reusables reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save water over their lifecycle, and eliminate plastic pollution at the source.
If San Rafael does not implement these changes, it will not be doing the right thing for our environment.
The city will fall behind other Marin towns that are demonstrating that they care about the future of our planet. San Rafael needs to be more environmentally conscientious. My second point and another reason to sign the ordinances is that this regulation has already proven to save money in other Marin cities. Take Comforts, a restaurant in San Anselmo; according to a Disposable Case Study they did, ”they eliminated the use of 288,335 pieces of single-use food packaging, reduced their trash generation by 2.4 tons, and earned an ongoing net cost savings of nearly $14,000 annually." My final point is based on Marin County's cost and waste reduction chart outlined below, it is apparent that the city's restaurants would save money and eliminate trash if they followed the ordinance. They would save 2,706,146 dollars and simultaneously eliminate 108,003,718 items of foodware waste. As a Marin Academy student, I spend a lot of time in San Rafael, going for ice cream after school and seeing movies at The Rafael theater. I live here and love the city. I understand there are many factors to consider when looking at San Rafael's future, yet I believe the reusable foodware ordinance would be an impactful and positive change.
Best,
Anaya
From: Alexandra Hobbs
Sent: Saturday, April 29, 2023 11:25 AM
To: Mayor Kate <[email protected]>
Subject: Supporting Reusable Foodware Ordinance
4/29/23
Dear Mayor Kate,
My name is Alex Hobbs, and I am a Junior at Marin Academy in San Rafael. When I go off-campus to eat during my lunch or free-block period, I usually have to use single-use plastics and non-sustainable materials. I believe San Rafael needs to participate in the Reusable Foodware Ordinance because it will help preserve our environment and lead our community to adopt more environmentally conscious practices, particularly surrounding waste.
Best,
Alex Hobbs