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Avonna Starck
Avonna received her bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and her master’s degree in political management and advocacy from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. She currently serves her community as a member of the Fridley School Board and as a member of the Fridley Environmental Quality and Energy Commission.
Avonna became the Minnesota State Director of Clean Water Action Minnesota in November 2022, having worked in politics for almost two decades. A former legislative staffer, she has worked with dozens of candidates
House Of Dim Sum
ReThink Disposable has long partnered with the City of San Francisco to help restaurants replace single-use foodware with cost-saving and planet-friendly reusable foodware. A recent champion is the House of Dim Sum in San Francisco’s Chinatown, which spent thousands of dollars weekly on disposable foodware.
After receiving technical assistance and fiscal support, the restaurant has eliminated 2.2 million disposable items every year. That’s more than seven tons of trash that won’t exist — the weight of a San Francisco cable car! An upfront investment of just $429 for durables will save $33,561 per year.
View the Case Study here (English) and here (Chinese).
Read more in The San Francisco Chronicle: Why San Francisco is spending $200,000 on dishware for restaurants
To learn more about our ReThink Disposable program, visit ReThinkDisposable.org.
Business Profile:
House of Dim Sum is located in San Francisco’s iconic Chinatown and specializes in, you guessed it, dim sum! Before working with SF Environment and ReThink Disposable, Ying Huang, the owner, spent thousands of dollars each week on disposable foodware to serve dine-in customers. After a visit from SF Environment’s outreach team, she learned that the ReThink Disposable program provides funds to switch from disposables to reusables for on-site dining. Huang joined the program — resulting in the elimination of unnecessary landfill waste and produced tremendous cost savings, which further supports House of Dim Sum as a cultural point of significance and source of nourishment for San Franciscans and Chinatown visitors.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
- Napkins automatically included with all orders
- Disposable hot cups
- Individually wrapped creamer
- Plastic forks and spoons
- 3 sizes of plastic clamshells,
paper boats, and deli containers
Recommendations Implemented:
- Napkins only upon request
- Stainless steel double-walled cups
- Carafe for bulk creamer
- Stainless steel utensils and teaspoons for stirrers
- Durable baskets and reusable plates
Before & After
Business Information:
735 Jackson St
San Francisco, CA 94133
United States
The Bottom Line
$429
upfront investment in reusable foodware
$33,561
annual savings after payback period
2,200,000
disposable items reduced per year
I encourage other businesses to work with ReThink Disposable and the City for the cost savings and to eliminate disposable items.
Reducing Single-Use Food Packaging
ReThink Disposable works with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers of single use food packaging to inspire a cultural shift away from single-use "throwaway" lifestyle.
Ahmad Almakky
Ahmad is originally from Pakistan and has worked on a variety of wildlife conservation, clean energy, and community development projects. As a specialist in community-based approaches, his work focuses on the multifaceted and complex impacts of environmental projects on marginalized and underrepresented groups. Ahmad holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Lahore University of Management Sciences and a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from Duke University.
LaTrice Harrison
LaTrice V. Harrison serves as the National Communications Director for Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund. Known for utilizing her skills to help underserved communities, inventive approach to developing and implementing communication strategies, and passion for environmental justice and protecting clean water, LaTrice brings vast experience to the Clean Water Action Communications Team. Referred to by her peers as the “Word Wizard” or “The voice for those who have lost their words,” LaTrice holds a BA in Journalism from Olivet College with extensive experience in marketing and
Marguerite Young
Clean Water Action Board of Directors
Oakland, CA
Marguerite Young is a lifelong activist who has worked for more than four decades as an organizer, policy advocate and coalition builder on behalf of environmental issues, especially water quality and public health. She worked for Clean Water Action for seventeen and a half years as a Regional Canvass Director, Canvass Supervisor and CA State Director. Marguerite retired from the Service Employees International Union in late 2021 where she worked more than 18 years in a variety of roles and most recently helping to coordinate the Union’s