WMG Volume 6 • Issue 20 October 16, 2019
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Wilton Manors Bans Plastic Straws By Sallie James
Wilton Manors has become the latest was pleased with the new law. “I can’t help but say how pleased I am city in Broward Country to ban the sale and distribution of single use plastic that we are finally doing something on this. We have beaten 11 of the cities in straws. City officials in September voted 4-1 to Broward County. I had hoped we would be No. 2 or No. 3 but we’re here,” Green said. approve the ban. Exceptions include prepackaged drinks Commissioner Gary Resnick opposed that come with plastic the ordinance, saying straws, straws used at he was concerned about medical or dental facilities, prohibiting all retail Straws are and at county, state, and businesses from selling permitted if needed federal properties, and at straws in the city. The new Broward County schools. law goes into effect on by someone with Straws are permitted if Sept. 1, 2020 and includes a medical or needed by someone with a $100 fine for the first offense, a $200 fine for a physical condition. a medical or physical condition. The ban also second offense and a $500 The ban also does does not apply to those fine for every subsequent violation. not apply to those who receive special events to host events of “People who use plastic who receive special permits 200 or few people. straws are going to have to events permits to City contracts or buy them outside the city,” concession agreements Resnick noted. “I can’t host events of 200 that were entered into support the ordinance on or few people. before the ordinance was that basis.” approved are also not The city’s ban also affected. includes the sale of The city of Fort Lauderdale passed a single-use plastic stirrers in the spirit of protecting the environment. According to ban on single-use plastic straws in January the ordinance, 8.8 million tons of plastic 2019 which goes into effect in January pollution flows into the ocean each year, 2020. Like the Wilton Manors law, the an amount that is expected to double by Fort Lauderdale ban will also prohibit both the distribution and sale of plastic 2025. Wilton Manors Vice Mayor Tom Green straws in the city.
And as of July 2019, businesses in Fort Lauderdale may only provide plastic straws upon request. Other cities that have approved a ban on single-use plastic straws include Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-bythe-Sea, Dania Beach, Hollywood, and Hallandale Beach. Green said many of the businesses in
Wilton Manors already comply with the new ordinance. “I have gone around as a public servant to as many of the bars and restaurants to check what they are using and there are very few, so I don’t think it will really affect a lot of the businesses. I am so very happy about it,” Green said. WMG
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