Plastic straws to be banned

One of the most common pieces of litter found on the area’s beaches — plastic straws — soon will be contraband in two South Florida cities.

Hallandale Beach and Deerfield Beach commissions banned the sale and distribution of plastic straws this week. Hallandale’s ban will start in January; Deerfield’s starts in April.

And that’s only the beginning of the area’s plastic straw wars. Dania Beach will vote on its own ban next week. Hollywood will begin to enforce its years-old ban on them east of the Intracoastal Waterway beginning Oct. 1. And another effort to stop people buying and using straws is in the works for Delray Beach.

It’s all part of a growing movement as awareness about pollution and its effects spread along with videos of sea life suffering from ingesting plastic. Starbucks, Sea World and Royal Caribbean are among the corporations pledged to make strides toward ending plastic straw use.

Catherine Uden, chairwoman of the Broward chapter of the Surfrider Foundation, said her organization has been lobbying local governments to act now — before Tallahassee does. The state has already passed laws that stop cities from banning other pollutants, such as plastic bags and foam take-away containers, and plastic straws are likely next, she said.

“Every step to reduce unnecessary pollution makes a difference,” she said.

Dustin Cranor, a Fort Lauderdale-based spokesman for Oceana, an international advocacy organization focused on ocean conservation, said it’s an urgent situation.

“We’re dumping a garbage truck full of plastic in the ocean every minute and that’s impacting zooplankton, fish, sea turtles, marine mammals and seabirds,” he said. “It never goes away. It breaks down into smaller pieces, making its way into our water, our food.”

The cities passing these bans are making exceptions for people with disabilities to use bendy plastic straws.

“We have to set an example and this is a step in the right direction,” said Rich Dally, who pushed Hallandale’s ban to unanimous approval.

Deerfield Beach Mayor Bill Ganz said he didn’t want to pass a “feel-good” ordinance with no real effect, but he ultimately voted for it.

Staff writer Susannah Bryan contributed to this report. ageggis@sunsentinel.com, 561-243-6624, or @AnneBoca. Visit our Deerfield Beach community page at SunSentinel.com/FacebookDeerfield.