Earth Protect Blog

MALIBU, CALIF. » It’s the last straw for this beachside city.

The City Council unanimously voted to ban all plastic cutlery and straws on Monday, citing concerns over keeping its famous beaches clean and protecting the environment.

The move builds on the city’s previous bans of plastic bags and Styrofoam, and is part of an overall strategy to eliminate all single-use plastic items in Malibu, which has 21 miles of picturesque coast and is known as a haven for celebrities.

“It’s the right thing to do,” City Councilwoman Laura Rosenthal said Tuesday. “If people could see all the plastics that we find on a daily basis, I think everyone would be supportive of this ban.”

A social media campaign using the hashtag #STOPSUCKING and a documentary called “Straws” recently have been drawing attention to the damage even a tiny piece of plastic can do, such as getting imbedded into the nostrils of sea turtles.

Instead of plastic utensils, straws and stirrers, Malibu businesses will have to provide items that are made from paper, wood or bamboo.

The city is providing one box of paper straws to businesses to help with the transition before the ban takes effect June 1.

Malibu is among the first cities to take such an aggressive move against plastic.

— The Associated Press

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