It’s something a growing list of US cities have done so, including Fort Myers and Miami Beach.
Jupiter joins Delray Beach in considering it.
“To date, this year, we have already removed 2,200 plastic straws from our beach and last year we removed nearly 5,000,” said Jack Lighton, president and CEO of the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach. “We know that plastic pollution in the ocean is the number one threat to not only wildlife but, ultimately if someone eats seafood, it’s a threat to us.”
“There’s a big issue here that people are not talking about,” said Marilu Cristina Flores.
On Monday, the Jupiter beach committee will hear arguments for the ordinance that she drafted.
It would require restaurants to only give you a straw if you asked for one. And if you did, it would have to be biodegradable.
“It’s time to make way with this relic. It’s not necessary and if you do need one there’s a lot of great options out there that don’t hurt our planet and our wildlife,” she said in an interview.
Town manager Matt Benoit wrote to the mayor and council that such a ban would be too hard to enforce given Jupiter’s size. He does however, support the education aspect.
Flores said the public could report violations through the town’s app.
Monday night at 6:30, inside the community center the beach committee is meeting to discuss the ordinance. The public is invited to speak.
