Delray Beach commissioners voted Tuesday to ban single-use plastic straws in restaurants by mid-2020.The South Florida Roundup recently spoke with state Sen. Kevin Rader about his bill that would prohibit plastic straws and bags from restaurants.
The city is the first in Palm Beach County to pass this kind of ordinance.
Competing bills that concern regulating plastic straws and bags have also reached the state Legislature.
Democratic state Sen. Kevin Rader of Delray Beach recently proposeda bill that would prohibit plastic carryout bags and single-use plastic straws in grocery stores, restaurants and other businesses that sell food.
In the Florida House, Republican Rep. Anthony Sabatini, of Howey-in-the-Hills, proposed a measure that would prevent local governments from these kinds of regulations. There’s also an identical bill in the state Senate.
Several other South Florida cities are already regulating plastic straws and bags, often citing potential harm to marine habitats.
Here’s where bans have been instituted organized by county:
Broward County
- Dania Beach
- Hollywood
- Fort Lauderdale (begins in 2020)
- Deerfield Beach (begins April 2019)
- Hallandale Beach
Miami-Dade County
- Coral Gables has banned single-use carryout plastic bags since May 2017 at retail establishments and restaurants.About two weeks ago, the city also banned single-use plastic straws and stirrers in its facilities and parks.
- Miami Beach began enforcing a ban on plastic straws and bags for city properties and sidewalk cafes on Feb. 1.
- Pinecrest
- Surfside
Monroe County
Islamorada considered a ban but voted against it.
This post was updated Wednesday with the results of the vote.
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