Help Support a Local Ban on Plastics

May 20, 2021

By Sandi Schwartz

Problems with styrofoam

Local actions matter.

I am thrilled to announce that my town, Boca Raton, has the opportunity to make a difference when it comes to plastic waste.

The Waste Reduction Ordinance (#5580) will be voted on during the June 8th City Council meeting. This happens to be World Oceans Day!

The ordinance will prohibit polystyrene foam products, balloons, and confetti in city facilities and on city property. Boca Raton would be joining at least 26 municipalities in Florida that have already passed similar ordinances, such as Boynton Beach. While the Florida Legislature passed preemption laws that prevent local municipalities from taking action to reduce certain single-use plastic/foam, local governments can still regulate the use of polystyrene foam products on public property.

Reasons to support this ordinance:

  • Boca Raton's Sustainability Action Plan calls for the reduction of litter and plastic pollution within the city.
  • Non-biodegradable plastic polystyrene foam represents a significant source of litter on the city’s beaches and in city facilities, parks, and waterways.
  • Polystyrene foam ("Styrofoam"), a petroleum-based plastic material, is an environmental pollutant often impossible to recycle, not compostable, and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can have serious impacts on human health, wildlife, aquatic environments, and the economy. It takes thousands of years to break down!
  • Confetti is produced in a size that makes it difficult to collect for proper disposal and thus can easily become litter.
  • Balloons are a common source of litter and can harm wildlife.

We are asking for support from all of you in our Sierra Club community. Please express your support for this ordinance by sending the following email to Boca Raton City Council using the email mcc@myboca.us. Feel free to add your own message about why this is so important.

Dear City Council Members,
Please vote to support The Waste Reduction Ordinance (#5580) to eliminate polystyrene foam products, balloons, and confetti on Boca Raton City property. Thank you for your leadership in keeping Boca Raton clean and a world-class city for residents and visitors alike.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your address

To learn more about this issue and to take action in your own town, visit https://plasticfreefl.org.