New Ideas for California's Future
The California Senate on Monday approved legislation barring dine-in restaurants from offering plastic straws to customers unless they are requested.
The measure, which goes back to the Assembly for concurrence in amendments, was introduced to address the environmental problems caused by plastic ending up in oceans and rivers.
Sen. Henry Stern (D-Canoga Park) said plastic contamination is showing up in 25% of the fish sold in California.
As reported by the Orange County Register:
Plastic shopping bags are so 2016.
The new trendy target for those who want to reduce the stream of plastic flowing into our oceans, beaches and parks, is something smaller – plastic straws.
And since November, when California voters agreed to ban plastic bags from supermarkets and other retailers, people who want similar restrictions on straws have a realistic goal.
It’s why a growing number of organizations – some in California, some around the world – are working to reduce or eliminate the number of plastic straws in our daily lives. Some businesses, along with people who oppose government rules on things like plastics, are among those offering opposition to the push, but many other groups are taking steps to reduce straws. …
