LTC 043-2019 Update on single-use plastic ordinances MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
Tel: 305-673-7010, Fax: 305-673-7782
043-2019
NO. LTC# LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members o the City Cl mission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager .!
DATE: January 23, 2019
SUBJECT: Update on single-use plastic ordini es
This purpose of this Letter to Commission TC) is to provide an update on the upcoming
enforcement of ordinances 2018-4208 and 2018-4205.
On July 25, 2018, the Mayor and City Commission adopted two ordinances to address some of
the most common single-use plastic items that impact our environment: plastic straws, stirrers,
and plastic bags.
• Ordinance 2018-4208 extends the existing single-use plastic straw/stirrers ban from
beaches to all city properties, including marinas, parks, piers, docks, boat ramps and
sidewalk cafes (as well as contractors and special events permittees).
• Ordinance 2018-4205 will prohibit the use/distribution of single-use carry out plastic bags
on the right of way and to sidewalk café patrons.
Full enforcement of both of these ordinances will commence on February 1, 2019. This is
following a 3-month educational period which ran from August 6, 2018 to October 31, 2018 and
another 3-month period for written warnings from November 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019. This
phase out approach allows businesses time to locate alternatives and deplete any existing
inventory.
Since the adoption of these ordinances, the city has distributed informative letters (Attachment
A) to all sidewalk cafes registered in the business tax receipt email distribution list as well as
business association groups. The city also developed factsheets (Attachment B) to summarize
the impacts and timeline of the ordinances and posted information through its various social
media channels.
To further supplement efforts on reducing plastic, the #PlasticFreeMB business program was
launched in November 2018 to encourage businesses to voluntarily remove certain types of
single-use plastics within their establishments. As of January 2019, the program has 70
registered businesses.
If you need more information, please contact Elizabeth Wheaton: 305.673.7010 or
elizabethwheaton(c�miamibeachfl.clov
SMT/ESW/FCT/YP
Al-TA E H M ENT A
MIAMI BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach, Florida 33139,www.miamibeachfl.gov
To Whom It May Concern:
The City of Miami Beach is working to reduce plastic waste generated by our community. The
increasing presence of plastic pollution in our environment directly impacts our residents' quality of
life and our visitors' experience here. This past July, the Mayor and City Commission passed two
ordinances to address two of the most common items that litter our environment: plastic straws and
plastic bags.
➢ Ordinance 2018-4208 extends the existing single-use plastic straw/stirrers ban from beaches
to all city properties, including marinas, parks, piers, docks, boat ramps and sidewalk cafes
(as well as contractors and special events permittees).
➢ Ordinance 2018-4205 will prohibit the use/distribution of single-use carry out plastic bags on
the right of way and to sidewalk café patrons.
Beginning August 6, 2018, both ordinances will have a 3-month educational period which will run until
October 31, 2018; followed by another 3-month period for written warnings from November 1, 2018 to
January 31, 2019. Full enforcement will commence on February 1, 2019.
It is important to note that substitutes for these types of items should be carefully chosen. We suggest
first opting for reusable products, prior to moving to single-use substitutes such as paper, sugar cane,
bamboo, or other similar non-plastic materials. The straw/stirrer ordinance does not allow for
biodegradable or compostable plastics as substitutes.
Thank you in advance for helping our environment and preventing litter through the reduction of
single-use plastics. If you have any questions on the ordinances or plastic alternatives, please contact
the Environment and Sustainability Department at 305.673.7010 or visit:
www.mbrisingabove.com/plasticfreem b.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Wheaton
Director of Environment and Sustainability
JLM/SMT/ESW/FT/YP
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work, and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community
ATTACHMENT B
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T21-
Ordinance Ordinance
Did you know... 2018-4208 2018-4205
Over eight million
Prohibits single-use plastic Prohibits the use/distribution of
metric tons of plastic are
straws/stirrers from beaches, city single-use carry out plastic bags on
found in our oceans
properties, including marinas, parks, the right of way and to sidewalk
every year, impacting
piers, docks, boat ramps, special cafe patrons.
our marine wildlife,
events, and sidewalk cafes.
fisheries, and tourism,
and costing at least $8
Alternatives must be made of natural We encourage opting for
billion in damage to
or reusable materials such as sustainable alternatives including
marine ecosystems. The
remains and bamboo, wood, metal, among paper, cotton, and linen.
broken-
others. Corn based plastics and
down particles of these
other biodegradable plastics
types of plastic can be
ingested by wildlife such are not allowed!
as shore birds, sea
turtles, and fish. Aug 6 2018 - Nov 1 2018 - em) Feb 1 2019
Oct 31 2018 s Jan 31 2019
On July 25, 2018, the
(es:
Mayor and City = _ 11AN
Commission passed two
ordinances to address
the most common items Education & Written Enforcement/
Outreach Warnings Penalty
that litter our
environment: single-use
plastic straws and plastic Need help The City of Miami Beach has partnered with Debris Free Oceans
bags. locating (DFO) to help businesses make informed decisions. DFO has
alternatives? developed a list of plastic alternatives, local vendors, and
discounts.
www.mbrisingabove.com/plasticfreemb
www.debrisfreeoceans.org