Orlando Plastic Regulations
While Orlando is known for its entertainment attractions, including the famed Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, it is also home to over 100 lakes. Keeping single-use plastic out of Orlando’s water is challenging, as this city is Florida’s third-largest metropolitan area and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Learn about Orlando’s plastic laws and how the city regulates plastic.
Crucial Information About the Plastic Crisis and Regulations in Orlando
First, let’s look at these critical takeaways about single-use plastic and how Orlando regulates it:
- Single-use plastic stays on the earth for hundreds of years—harming wildlife and human health.
- The state of Florida prohibits local authorities from implementing public plastic legislation.
- Only city venues and parks have single-use plastic bans.
- Most Florida residents believe single-use plastic regulations are necessary.
The Single-Use Plastic Predicament
Single-use plastics include takeout containers, straws, and plastic bags. We usually use these items only for a few minutes before they end up in the environment. While their usefulness is short-lived, they linger for hundreds of years since they’re not biodegradable. They simply break down into smaller pieces, eventually becoming microplastics that enter our food, water, and bodies. Microplastics can harm our health, leading to premature deaths.
What Are Orlando’s Plastic Regulations?
Local and state governments are taking legislative action to reduce the use of single-use plastics. In fact, around 500 cities and 12 states are regulating the use of these harmful items. Learn how the Florida legislature influences plastic regulation in Orlando and how the city reduces the use of plastic.
Public Orlando Plastic Bans
Individuals and businesses in Orlando are free to sell and use single-use plastics as they see fit. In fact, due to preemption laws, there are no bans on plastic bags or other single-use plastic products. In 2008, the state passed a bill restricting local authorities from taxing, limiting, or banning single-use plastics.
Orlando Plastic Ban at City Venues and Parks
Despite preemption laws, the city of Orlando is taking measures against single-use plastics. While the city council cannot implement Orlando plastic bag laws, it can regulate single-use plastics at locations it manages, operates from, or owns.
In 2019, the Orlando City Commissioners banned single-use straws, plastic bags, utensils, and polystyrene (Styrofoam) items at city venues and parks. The city now uses contractors who provide biodegradable, compostable, or recyclable alternatives to single-use plastics.
Recently, the state has wanted to prohibit local governments from regulating single-use plastics, like plastic bags and Styrofoam, on their own property. However, the bills advocating for these restrictions (SB 1126 and HB 1641) were not implemented.
What Floridians Think About Plastic Regulations
Florida cleanup groups collect hundreds of thousands of pounds of single-use plastics annually from beaches, parks, and waterways. The citizens of the Sunshine State believe plastic regulations can reduce plastic pollution in their land, rivers, and oceans. In truth, over 90% of Florida citizens think the government should regulate single-use plastics.
Help Keep Orlando Green With Greenprint
Greenprint offers biodegradable foodservice items, including takeout containers, cups, straws, and cutlery, as affordable alternatives to single-use plastics. Browse our green products or contact our team online to learn more.
References
- https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/microplastics-linked-to-heart-attack-stroke-and-death/
- https://environmentamerica.org/florida/articles/new-florida-legislation-would-restrict-local-plastic-bag-bans/
- https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Departments-Offices/Executive-Offices/CAO/Sustainability-Resilience/Green-Works-Focus-Areas/Zero-Waste/Single-Use-Plastic-Bag-Straw-and-Foam-Ban-at-City-Events-and-Venues
- https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/1126
- https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/1641
- https://www.theinvadingsea.com/2024/02/05/florida-single-use-plastic-bag-bans-waste-styrofoam-legislature-hb-1641-sb-1126/
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