06 • 11 • 2018
Enforce Hollywood Beach Single-Use Plastic Ordinance
Last year, Florida passed a polystyrene preemption so that cities could no longer ban polystyrene. Luckily, the city of Hollywood already has an ordinance on the books, which states that all businesses east of the intracoastal waterway can not dispense non-biodegradable food service products, such as plastic straws, and polystyrene cups and take out containers. Fortunately, Hollywood is able to enforce this ordinance because it is grandfathered in. However, the city is not currently enforcing the ordinance. Many businesses are unaware this ordinance exists, and are unaware of the environmental importance of this ordinance. The city of Hollywood is a coastal town. We have a beautiful beach, and right off the beach, you can see manatees, sea turtles, dolphins, and manta rays. These animals are harmed by plastic and polystyrene litter. The beach has many restaurants and businesses, and they are not in compliance of this ordinance.
Update: Victory! The City of Hollywood Beach has begun enforcing a ban on, “Cups, lids, straws, plates, bowls, utensils, sandwich containers, or other packaging, which are made of plastic, polystyrene plastic, or of any nonbiodegradable material are banned.” The ban applies to all food service establishments east of the Intracostal Waterway. Code enforcement will begin issuing citations on October 1, 2018 to allow businesses to eliminate their current supply of single-use plastics. More here.
Single-use plastics like straws, polystyrene cups, and polystyrene take out containers are harmful. Not only are the chemicals toxic for humans, but these items break apart into tiny micro-plastics that remain in the ocean forever. Plastics are consumed by marine life and end up in our food chain. Additionally, these plastics are made from fossil fuels, so the fewer disposable plastics we use, the better it is for the planet!
This campaign seeks to compel the City of Hollywood Beach to begin immediately educating the businesses on the beach about this ordinance, the importance of the ordinance, and set a date for compliance. Our neighbors in Miami Beach has already begun their enforcement of their plastic straw and polystyrene ordinance, and it is going well for local businesses and the environment. If Miami Beach can enforce this, so can we.