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For months we’ve been encouraging residents to skip the straw, a move that could help reduce the millions of tons of plastic dumped into our waters every year. On December 14, St. Pete City Council took it one step further with a full ban on single-use plastic straws.

No, it doesn’t go into effect immediately. The general outline states that by 2020 businesses will only supply plastic straws by request. By 2021, the straws will be outright banned.

Businesses who don’t comply in 2021 could face fines up to $80 for repeat offenses.

The council also targeted styrofoam cups and to-go containers. Street vendors like food trucks and carts will no longer be allowed to provide customers with these vessels.

The Styrofoam ban will go into effect in early 2019.

This vote could mean council members are also ready to implement a 5 cent fee on single-use plastic bags. That will be up for a vote come January.

Do you you agree with the ban?

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