Hallandale to vote on citywide ban of plastic straws

HALLANDALE BEACH – Beachgoers will have to slurp their soda through a paper straw come Jan. 1 if commissioners outlaw the plastic ones.

Commissioner Rich Dally is hoping Hallandale Beach becomes the first municipality in Broward County to embrace a citywide ban on the sale and distribution of plastic straws, plus an outright ban at the beach to cut back on litter and help protect marine life.

“I hope this starts a trend,” Dally said. “I’d like to see more cities care more about the environment and more about the future.”

The proposed ban goes before Hallandale Beach commissioners today.

If it passes, straws would be banned altogether on the beach as of Jan. 1. In addition, restaurants throughout Hallandale could not use plastic straws and stores would be prohibited from selling them.

Other cities nationwide have embraced a similar

ban, including Seattle, San Francisco and Miami Beach.

Hollywood outlawed plastic straws more than 25 years ago, but the ban applied only to restaurants east of the Intracoastal and was never enforced. Hollywood plans to begin enforcing the rule on Oct. 1.

State law prohibits cities from banning polystyrene foam from restaurants, convenience stores and supermarkets. But plastic straws are fair game, said Bob Jarvis, a constitutional law professor at Nova Southeastern University in Davie.

“At the moment, counties and cities can pass any ordinance they want banning plastic straws,” he said. “A few years ago, cities started banning plastic bags at grocery stores. If the state passed a law saying plastic bags are OK, a city or county could not ban them.”

In Hallandale, fines would increase from $100 to $500, with amounts increasing for each violation. First-time violators would get a warning.

Police officers and code enforcement officials would be in charge of enforcing the ban.

“I wanted to ban the use of plastic straws on our public beaches,” Dally said. “If you’re walking down the street using a plastic straw, that’s fine. We are banning the sale and distribution of plastic straws. Wendy’s will not be able to give you a plastic straw for your soda.”

In lieu of plastic straws, restaurants could use alternative straws made from paper, sugar cane or bamboo, Dally said.

One Hallandale restaurant owner says he has no problem with a ban even if it means restocking his deli with a more costly alternative.

“I think it’s a good idea to get rid of them,” said Harvey Fuerst, owner of Sage Bagel & Deli. “I’ve been to the beach and I’ve seen [plastic] straws stuck in the sand. You can’t get rid of them.”

The prohibition on plastic straws would not apply to medical and dental facilities; schools; county, state or federal government facilities; or stores selling pre-packaged drinks that contain plastic straws.

Anyone with a disability who relies on plastic straws to drink would still be able to use them.

And the ban would be lifted for any locally declared emergency.