DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — City leaders in Delray Beach voted to ban restaurants from giving customers plastic straws on Tuesday.
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Under the ordinance, only straws made of paper, plant, vegetable, or other natural products will be allowed.
The ban applies to restaurants, bars and night clubs, coffee shops, convenience stores, and more.
READ THE PLASTIC STRAW BAN:
The ordinance goes into effect immediately.
From now until Jan. 1, 2020, customers would only get a plastic straw if they ask for one. After Jan. 1, 2020, plastic straws will be banned completely, unless a customer needs one for a medical or physical condition.
City leaders said the measure will help the environment and save restaurants money because, they anticipate, the number of straws being distributed will go down.
If a business violates the ordinance after Jan. 1, 2020, they'll be fined $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second, and $500 for the third.