South Pasadena Current and Future Environmental Efforts

Cub Scout Pack 7’s mural, 2018 (File Photo – southpasadenaca.gov)

South Pasadena Environmental Tidbits.

By Justina Michael

– The No Gas South Pas initiative launched in February 2022 to prepare City residents for a ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers effective October 1, 2022. South Pasadena’s Natural Resources and Environmental Commission was instrumental in obtaining the ban on gas-powered leaf blowers  South Pasadena is ahead of the curve; a new state law, AB 1346, will ban such sales, along with other tools, effective 2024.  South Coast Air Quality Management District offers 75% discounts on non-polluting battery-powered leaf blowers, lawnmowers and other tools of the gardening trade.

– The South Pasadena City Council is considering a ban on sale of tobacco cigs and ecigs in the Cty and held a public hearing on the subject on April 6, 2022. Ecigs were banned in public parks, apartment buildings and restaurants in 2014 and in all public spaces in 2019.South Pasadena took on ambitious planning of future environmental goals to address use of polluting natural gas in homes with the Climate Action Plan in 2019. In its Green Action Plan in 2019, the South Pasadena Natural Resources and Environmental Commission,  detailed plans to reduce use of Single Use Plastic or SUP in the City.

– Beginning in 2019, Green Power Alliance became the electricity provider for South Pasadena and 100% renewable energy became the default option for residents and businesses.

Justina Michael is a freelance writer living in the San Gabriel Valley.