Paper straw, metal straw or even pasta straw?
These are just some of the different alternatives Gainesville residents may have to consider after the Gainesville City Commission votes on a single-use plastic straw ban in June.
If passed, the ordinance would take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
The City Commission discussed the possible plastic straw ban on May 16. This came less than a week after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed a bill that would prohibit local governments from implementing their own plastic straw bans.
The ordinance would include plastic straws and stirrers, but there would be some exemptions, Mayor Lauren Poe said during the May 16 meeting.
Despite some concerns about how the ordinance would affect disabled individuals, Poe noted there would be an exemption for those who need plastic straws, such as some elderly and disabled people.
This vote on banning plastic straws is part of a larger initiative to make Gainesville waste-free by 2040, which includes the outlawing of single use plastics and foam containers.
City Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos said he fully supports the ordinance.
“I think this community cares about the environment,” Hayes-Santos said. “I think this community understands that we need to be a leader in looking at ways that we can reduce the amount of waste we’re creating.”
Photo by Gabriel Gurrola on Unsplash
