Straw Ordinance


strawordinance

What!? The City has a Straw Ban?

As a coastal community, the City is committed to environmental leadership and the conservation of natural resources. The City realizes that discarded plastic straws threaten wildlife and degrade ecosystems. Because of this, Commissioner Richard Dally proposed a straw ban in 2018. Since the Ban’s adoption, plastic and bio-plastic straws will be banned within the City of Hallandale Beach and its public beaches effective January 1, 2019. Specifically, the City has banned the sale and distribution of plastic straws within the City Limits and the use of plastic straws on public beaches within City Limits. There are a few exceptions:
  • pre-packaged drinks sold at commercial establishments (like juice boxes)
  • use by medical or dental facilities
  • use by the school district or county, state, or federal government entities
  • use during a locally declared emergency; use by individuals with a disability or other impairment requiring use of plastic straw
Read the full Ordinance here.

What does the Straw Ban mean for restaurants?

Since the sale and distribution of plastic straws is banned, restaurants, bars, and other food and beverage providers are required to take a different approach to their beverage service. The City suggests businesses take one or more of the following approaches:

1)     Switch to non-plastic straw alternatives like paper straws.
2)     Do not provide a straw with every beverage served.  Offer non-plastic straws by request only.
3)     Purchase and incorporate re-usable non-plastic straws such as stainless steel, silicone, and glass straws.
4)     Do not offer straws with beverages at all.
5)     Join Surfrider’s “Ocean Friendly Restaurants” program and receive a 50% discount on paper straws from Aardvark Straws. 

See below for downloadable designs which you can print in-house to educate your customers about the Straw Ban.

While paper straws can be more expensive than plastic straws, by offering them by request only or by taking part in the “Ocean Friendly Restaurants” businesses may experience a net benefit from the Straw Ban. The Straw Ban is enforceable starting January 1, 2019.
Please note that many paper straw vendors are experiencing a 7-12 week shipping window.


What does the Straw Ban mean for the environment?

Less pollution. Less dependence on fossil fuels. Less harmed wildlife. More environmental sustainability.

According to Strawless Ocean, Americans use over 500 million straws every day. In Miami alone, over 700,000 straws are disposed of each day. Most of these straws end up in the ocean, polluting the water and harming marine life. Plastic, including plastic straws, are made of petroleum, a fossil fuel which when burned contributes to global climate change. Approximately 4% of the world’s oil production per year is used to make plastics. Plastic does not biodegrade but instead photodegrades into smaller pieces of plastic that are virtually impossible to remediate. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is an island of these small plastic particles, which is twice the size of Texas. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of five trash gyres in the world ocean. Scientists estimate that as much as 70% of marine debris actually sinks to the bottom of the ocean, making the Garbage Patch seem insignificant. Lastly, 100,000 marine animals are killed each year due to the pollution of plastic straws in the ocean. 

By Banning straws, the City of Hallandale Beach reduces its consumption of plastics and oil, reduces its contribution to marine debris, and takes steps to protect marine life. 

What does the Straw Ban mean for residents?

The straw ban offers an opportunity for residents to lessen their impact on the environment, without even trying! When purchasing beverages throughout the City, residents will automatically be provided with a more sustainable alternative to single-use plastic straws. However, residents will need to be mindful about the plastics they bring with them to the beach. Effective January 1, 2019 residents will no longer be permitted to use plastic straws on public beaches within City limits. However, if the resident is differently abled and requires the use of a plastic straw, their needs are protected by the Ban’s exceptions.


Join the Movement- Downloadable Designs

  1. Table Tent
  2. Together we make a difference
  3. Window Sticker for Compliant Establishments
  4. Straw Ban Postcard with Link

Frequently Asked Questions


Question: Why should Hallandale Beach ban straws when not many other communities are banning them?
Answer: Any reduction in the amount of single-use plastic used, benefits the environment. Even when we try to dispose of plastic straws correctly, they often end up airborne in trash transport, ultimately finding their way to waterways and the ocean. The only way to reduce the future amount of plastic debris in the ocean is to reduce the amount of plastic used. The City of Hallandale Beach joins more than nine cities in the US and numerous private companies in banning straws. Alone, we set an example. Together, we change the world.

Question: Why do disabled or impaired people still get to use plastic straws?
Answer: Some disabled individuals have difficulty lifting/holding glasses, swallowing, limited jaw control, or other conditions which can cause them to aspirate liquids when not consumed via plastic bendy-straw. The City supports the needs of its disabled residents and extends the exception within the Straw Ban.

Question: Are paper straws actually better for the environment than plastic straws?
Answer: Plastic straws are made of petroleum and take over 500 years to degrade. Paper straws are made of wood, a renewable resource and biodegrade quickly. Paper straws are indeed better for the environment than plastic straws. However, no straws is the most environmentally friendly option.

Question: What will happen to me if I buy a soft drink with a straw from another City and then bring it into Hallandale Beach?
Answer:Nothing, as long as you do not bring the beverage and straw onto a public beach. However, you are always encouraged to bring your own re-usable straw for times like these!


Question: How will the Straw Ban be enforced?
Answer:Starting January 1, 2019 violators of the Straw Ban will first be issued a written warning or notice of violation. Following the initial warning, violations within a 12-month period will incur the following fine schedule:

• Second Offense: fine not to exceed $100
• Third Offense: fine not to exceed $200
• Forth and subsequent offenses: fine not to exceed $500.

If you have a question about the Straw Ban which is not included here, email the City’s Green Initiatives Coordinator, Alyssa Jones Wood at ajoneswood@cohb.org