Miami Beach to Ban Plastic Pollutants
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575 PRESS RELEASE
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2017
Miami Beach to Ban Plastic Pollutants
— City Takes a Stand Against the Use of Carry Out Plastic Bags —
Miami Beach, FL – Plastic bags will, hopefully, one day be a thing of the past in Miami Beach.
From stores to shorelines, they pollute and threaten the natural environment unique to a coastal
community. In accordance with the city’s waste reduction and recycling goals, the City
Commission unanimously passed an ordinance requiring sidewalk cafes to discontinue the use
of plastic bags for the purpose of transporting purchases or goods, including, but not limited to
food and beverages. The city’s ordinance will take effect upon a favorable court ruling in
ongoing litigation challenging Coral Gables’s polystyrene ordinance.
“As a leading municipality in environmental policy, I’m proud we’ve taken legislative action that
is crucial in preserving our 70 miles of coastline and precious ocean waters,” expressed City
Manager Jimmy L. Morales. “By simply replacing plastic bags with a reusable and
biodegradable alternative, we can enhance the wellbeing of our residents and visitors and
protect our marine life now and for generations to come.”
Single-use carry out plastic bags make up a significant amount of litter on city streets, and in
parks, stormwater management systems and waterways. They take hundreds to thousands of
years to degrade, impacting habitats and injuring wildlife like the endangered turtles that nest on
beaches when they become entangled in them or confuse them for food. Plastic bag litter is also
an eyesore, clogs flood control systems and overburdens landfills.
Several Florida Statutes restrict municipalities from enacting certain types of environmental
legislation. However, some of these statutes are currently under court review in ongoing
litigation challenging Coral Gables’s polystyrene ordinance. In fact, the Miami Beach City
Commission directed the City Attorney to file an amicus brief in support of the City of Coral
Gables in the Coral Gables litigation, to safeguard the right of Florida cities to enact
environmental legislation at the local level.
These actions are among the many steps towards becoming a completely sustainable and
resilient city. Click here for a video.
###
To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five-day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/or any accommodation to review any document or participate in any
city-sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2489 and select 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Service).