If you’re one of those people who feels overwhelmed by the waste we humans create, you might take heart with a move made by Milwaukee's Public Safety and Health Committee. It voted Thursday to prohibit local food and alcohol beverage establishments from providing customers with plastic straws.

Should Milwaukee ban plastic straws? https://t.co/bE4aPE9kmx — WUWM 89.7 FM (@WUWMradio) November 14, 2019

Alderman Cavalier Johnson says the legislation mirrors policy being adopted in cities across the United States.

"Literally millions of plastic straws are ending up in rivers, lakes and other bodies of water across our city, county, state, and the nation. We need to take action and that's what this legislation is meant to do," says Johnson, the author of the legislation.

READ: Wisconsin's Largest Landfill Wants To Expand

But the ban on single-use plastic straws in Milwaukee wouldn't happen overnight. The Common Council, slated to meet Nov. 26, needs to give the legislation its blessing. If approved, the plastic straw ban would go into effect April 14, 2020.

Johnson says the grace period would give food and beverage establishments time to "adjust their practices and educate customers."

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