Seattle Bans Plastic Straws And Utensils Encourages Sustainability

If you live in Seattle, you’ll no longer be able to sip iced coffee out of a plastic straw. On July 1, 2018, the west coast city became the first major city to ban plastic straws and utensils.

Seattle Public Utilities announced that all plastic utensils, plastic straws, and plastic cocktail picks cannot be used in food businesses, be it coffee shops or food trucks. Instead, they items must be made from durable or compostable materials (metal or paper, for example). Failure to comply results in a $250 fine.

The ban comes on the heels of another ordinance Seattle instituted in 2008, mandating that “one-time-use food service items, including packaging and utensils, be recyclable and compostable.” Plastic straws and utensils were previously exempt from this decree because alternatives were expensive or tricky to find, but now that there are adequate replacements, this ruling has changed.

Plastic utensils will be replaced by compostable ones in Seattle

The city has suggested a couple of ways for businesses to enforce the new practice: only hand over these new products at the request of the customer, and provide dispensers for customers to grab their own. Plus, businesses should have cans distinctly marked for recyclables and compostables, which should be filed for collection weekly.

As the world struggles to combat ocean pollution and other man-made environmental problems, this change is a small step in the right direction. Though other major cities like New York and Los Angeles have discussed similar legislation, Seattle is the first to enforce this kind of practice. Comparable bans exist in smaller places like California’s Malibu and Santa Cruz County and Fort Myers in Florida. The US is slowly catching up to the rest of the world: Scotland aims to have no plastic straws by 2019, Queen Elizabeth II has mandated that plastic straws and bottles are not allowed in royal estates, and Taiwan is in the process of eradicating single-use plastic products by 2030.

Other enterprises such as Plastic Free July invite people to reduce their plastic usage for a select period of time, choosing canvas bags, paper cups, and reusable straws instead of plastic options.

For those who don’t live in Seattle or a plastic-free city but want to do their part even when it’s not Plastic Free July, opt for toting around your own metal straws—they’re light, cheap, and dishwasher safe—or bringing your own bags to the grocery store or market.

Culture Trips launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes places and communities so special.

Our immersive trips, led by Local Insiders, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and an invitation to travel the world with like-minded explorers. Our Travel Experts are on hand to help you make perfect memories. All our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.?>

All our travel guides are curated by the Culture Trip team working in tandem with local experts. From unique experiences to essential tips on how to make the most of your future travels, we’ve got you covered.