The City of Miami Beach is riding the “green wave” by taking another step in becoming plastic free.

With a unanimous vote, the city commission passed an ordinance on Wednesday banning single-use plastic straws and stirrers, CBS Miami reported. Similar to the city’s plastic bag restriction, the bans will be fully enforced starting July 2020. Businesses that violate the ban will be fined $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second and $500 for the third and subsequent violations.

City of Miami Beach Bans Plastic Straws & Stirrers Citywide — Expanding its Plastic Ban Beyond Public Spaces to the Entire City #PlasticFreeMB 👏🏽 pic.twitter.com/u2pRpruYxg

— City of Miami Beach (@MiamiBeachNews) September 11, 2019

While some business owners have complained that alternatives to plastic, such as paper straws, are expensive and not sturdy enough, the city plans to roll out a public education campaign over the next few months informing businesses about the new regulation and helping them identify reusable alternatives. More than 120 businesses have voluntarily agreed to stop using plastic straws as part of the city-sponsored campaign, The Miami Herald reported.

“Every move we make to strengthen our litter laws citywide significantly reduces the amount of litter and pollutants on land and in the water,” Mayor Dan Gelber said in a statement. “Protecting both our natural environment and wildlife is a priority for our city and a cause we will never stop fighting for.”

Miami Beach has gradually limited plastic straws in recent years, aiming to reduce plastic pollution in the city’s storm drain system and on the beach. The city also has a ban on polystyrene (such as Styrofoam) products, a measure which was grandfathered in under state law.

A growing number of municipalities, cities and states are considering or actively trying to ban single-use plastic products. Major food and beverage companies like Starbucks and McDonald’s are also phasing out single-use plastic straws. On the contrary, President Donald Trump released branded plastic straws in July to help generate re-election campaign funds, stating “I do think we have bigger problems than plastic straws.”

Ban proponents say plastic bags, straws, stirrers and other items present a threat to wildlife and cause pollution. The world produces more than 300 million tons of plastic each year, according to Statista, and scientists estimate that up to 91% of plastic is never recycled, polluting the environment. Legislators and proponents of single-use plastic straw restrictions hope the regulations will encourage consumers to change their behavior and switch to reusable alternatives. That presents potential opportunity for promotional products distributors, who can encourage businesses, nonprofits and other organizations to go green by giving out or selling branded reusable straws.

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