On Thursday, Dec. 13, St. Petersburg City Council plans to vote on a ban of certain single-use plastics. The proposed ordinance would start doing away with plastic straws and expanded polystyrene, aka Styrofoam, at food and drink establishments in April.
During the first year, according to Fox 13, businesses would only provide straws to customers upon request, with drive-thrus being the exception.
The city's ban on plastic straws, as well as expanded polystyrene, would then take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
Establishments that don't comply would receive a written warning, followed by a $40 fine if they don't correct the violation within 30 days. A third violation would result in an $80 fine.
But some businesses already seem on board with a ban of this ilk. Several bars and restaurants, for example, have voluntarily phased out plastic straws through the citywide No Straws St. Pete campaign.
Today's city council meeting at St. Petersburg City Hall is scheduled for 3 p.m.
This article appears in Dec 13-20, 2018.
