Fort Myers Beach debates plastic straw ban as state bill looms

A new bill making its way through the Florida Legislature would prevent local governments from restricting single-use plastic and erase any existing laws.

Fort Myers Beach banned plastic straws in 2017.

However, Sen. Jonathan Martin believes local bans are ineffective.

He wants to create a statewide process.

“We have to stay motivated to keep our beaches and our waterways safe and clean from plastic,” said Martin. “In order to do that, I think we need to get all of the stakeholders together, and we need to address this from a statewide level.”

Carolyn Thomas, a visitor to Fort Myers Beach, enjoyed her iced tea with a biodegradable straw and shared her thoughts on plastic use.

“If I had it my way, we wouldn’t even have plastic cups. It’s doable,” said Thomas.

Others, like Chris Maul and Terri Rolfe, also expressed concern about the environmental impact of plastic.

“They’re horrible for the bay and the Gulf,” said Maul.

“The plastic straws concern us for the beaches and for the animals in the water, and just for garbage,” added Rolfe.

On the other hand, John, a supporter of the bill, shared his preference for plastic.

“I like my plastic straws. Why? Paper straws are a pain in the rear,” said John.

Martin explained that while local governments aim to keep beaches clean, the problem is larger than it seems.

“It creates a false sense of security,” said Martin. “We forget, oftentimes, that the plastic that we see on the beach is not coming from that city. It’s being washed up from the ocean or from the Gulf or from the rivers, and those rivers flow all throughout the state.”

The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation argued against a statewide approach, saying it won’t work as it’s not a one-size-fits-all situation.

Both the House and Senate versions of the bill still need to pass through more committees before reaching the floor for a vote. WINK News reached out to the town for its perspective but is still awaiting a response.