Ban on Plastic Straws

Seattle Is the First U.S. City to Ban Plastic Straws

The new law takes effect on July 1.

BY TEMI ADEBOWALE
Getty Images/Godong

It's well known by now that plastic wreaks havoc on the environment. From filling massive landfills to contaminating our oceans and rivers, all that plastic is hard to get rid of. Some countries, like France and the United Kingdom, have pledged to ban plastics, but progress has been slow in the States. But now one U.S. city has taken a drastic measure to reduce plastic waste and pollution.


Starting July 1, 2018, Seattle will ban businesses that sell food or drinks from using plastic straws, utensils, and cocktail picks, making Seattle the first major U.S. city to enact such a ban. Mami Hara, general manager of Seattle Public Utilities, explained to Komo News that the measure is part of the city's continued efforts to reduce waste and prevent petroleum-based plastics from polluting waters.

Seattle started efforts to reduce plastic pollution in 2008 with a year-by-year exemption for a handful of items, including plastic utensils and straws. But now that there are multiple manufacturers of compostable utensils and straws, the exemption will not not be renewed, and the new ban will go into effect.

The city is also encouraging businesses to make the switch from compostable plastic straws to compostable paper straws. Compostable paper straws are marine biodegradable, but compostable plastic straws are not. "Our goal for the next year is to help all restaurants, food trucks, and food service operations shift away from plastic to compostable food service ware," Hara said.

Some companies are also taking their own actions to curb the use of plastic. McDonald's has also announced a ban on plastic straws in their U.K. locations. The ban will be rolled out starting in September and is due to be completed by 2019. The change will not be a global one, but alternatives to plastic straws will be tested in selected restaurants in the U.S., France, and Norway.