Delray Beach commissioners voted Tuesday single-use plastic straws in restaurants by mid-2020.
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 a 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 local governments from these kinds of regulations. There鈥檚 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鈥檚 where bans have been instituted organized by county:
Broward County
- (begins in 2020)
- (begins April 2019)
Miami-Dade County
- Coral Gables has single-use carryout plastic bags since May 2017 at retail establishments and restaurants.About two weeks ago, the city also single-use plastic straws and stirrers in its facilities and parks.
- Miami Beach began on plastic straws and bags for city properties and sidewalk cafes on Feb. 1.
Monroe County
Islamorada but voted against it.
This post was updated Wednesday with the results of the vote.
