Ban Commercial Use of Plastic Drinking Straws in city of St. Pete Beach, FL.

Plastic drinking straws commonly end up on Florida beaches and are one of the main contributors to global oceanic pollution. Their prevalence in St. Pete Beach is a threat to wildlife, as well as the aesthetic of our shores. Many restaurants and other retailers use plastic straws within their establishment, where they ultimately end up scattered on the beaches of St. Pete Beach. Animals commonly ingest plastics thinking that they are food, leading to health complications, or even death. These risks could be greatly reduced if commercial businesses were banned from distributing plastic drinking straws to its customers, opting for greener alternatives, like paper straws. Paper drinking straws can decompose after use, and are much less threatening to wildlife.
We have the potential to set an example for other cities in environmental stewardship while cleaning up our beaches!