Looking for a plastic straw to sip your soda? It's no longer allowed in Seattle bars and restaurants.

Neither are plastic utensils in the latest push to reduce waste and prevent marine plastic pollution. Businesses that sell food or drinks won't be allowed to offer the plastic items under a rule that went into effect Sunday.

Seattle is believed to be the first major U.S. city to ban single-use plastic straws and utensils in food service, according to Seattle Public Utilities. The eco-conscious city has been an environmental leader in the U.S., working to aggressively curb the amount of trash that goes into landfills by requiring more options that can be recycled or composted.

The city's 5,000 restaurants — including Seattle-based Starbucks outlets — will now have to use reusable or compostable utensils, straws and cocktail picks, though the city is encouraging businesses to consider not providing straws altogether or switch to paper rather than compostable plastic straws.

"Plastic pollution is surpassing crisis levels in the world's oceans, and I'm proud Seattle is leading the way and setting an example for the nation by enacting a plastic straw ban," Seattle Public Utilities general manager Mami Hara said in a statement last month.

Other U.S. cities consider bans

Proposals to ban plastic straws are being considered in other cities, including New York and San Francisco.

California's legislature is considering statewide restrictions, but not an outright ban, on single-use plastic straws. It would block restaurants from providing straws as a default but would still allow a customer to request one. It's passed the state assembly and now awaits action in the senate.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Theresa May announced in April a plan to ban the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds. She called plastic waste "one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world."

Smaller cities in California, including Malibu and San Luis Obispo, have restricted the use of plastic straws. San Luis Obispo requires single-use straws only be provided in restaurants, bars and cafes when customers ask for them. City officials said most customers will say "no" if asked if they want a straw.

Seattle's ban is part of a 2008 ordinance that requires restaurants and other food-service businesses to find recyclable or compostable alternatives to disposable containers, cups, straws, utensils and other products.

Seeking alternatives

Businesses had time to work toward complying with the ban, said Jillian Henze, a spokeswoman for the Seattle Restaurant Alliance, an industry trade group.

"We've almost had a year to seek out products to protect the environment and give customers a good experience [with alternatives]," she said.

The city had allowed exemptions for some products until alternatives could be found. With multiple manufacturers offering alternatives, the city let the exemption for plastic utensils and straws run out over the weekend.

Environmental advocates have been pushing for restaurants and other businesses to ditch single-use straws, saying they can't be recycled and end up in the ocean, polluting the water and harming sea life.

Supporters say it will take more than banning plastic straws to curb ocean pollution but that ditching them is a good first step and a way to start a conversation about waste and ocean conservation.

Seattle urged businesses to use up their existing inventory of plastic utensils and straws before Sunday. Those who weren't able to use up their supply have been told to work with the city on a compliance schedule.

Businesses that don't comply may face a fine of up to $250, but city officials say they will work with businesses to make the changes.

Read more from CBC British Columbia</s>SEATTLE (AP) — Looking for a plastic straw to sip your soda? It's no longer allowed in Seattle bars and restaurants.

Neither are plastic utensils in the latest push to reduce waste and prevent marine plastic pollution. Businesses that sell food or drinks won't be allowed to offer the plastic items under a rule that went into effect Sunday.

Seattle is believed to be the first major U.S. city to ban single-use plastic straws and utensils in food service, according to Seattle Public Utilities. The eco-conscious city has been an environmental leader in the U.S., working to aggressively curb the amount of trash that goes into landfills by requiring more options that can be recycled or composted.

The city's 5,000 restaurants - including Seattle-based Starbucks outlets - will now have to use reusable or compostable utensils, straws and cocktail picks, though the city is encouraging businesses to consider not providing straws altogether or switch to paper rather than compostable plastic straws.

"Plastic pollution is surpassing crisis levels in the world's oceans, and I'm proud Seattle is leading the way and setting an example for the nation by enacting a plastic straw ban," Seattle Public Utilities General Manager Mami Hara said in a statement last month.

Proposals to ban plastic straws are being considered in other cities, including New York and San Francisco.</s>SEATTLE (AP) - Looking for a plastic straw to sip your soda? It's no longer allowed in Seattle bars and restaurants.

Neither are plastic utensils in the latest push to reduce waste and prevent marine plastic pollution. Businesses that sell food or drinks won't be allowed to offer the plastic items under a rule that went into effect Sunday.

Seattle is believed to be the first major U.S. city to ban single-use plastic straws and utensils in food service, according to Seattle Public Utilities. The eco-conscious city has been an environmental leader in the U.S., working to aggressively curb the amount of trash that goes into landfills by requiring more options that can be recycled or composted.

Seattle's 5,000 restaurants will now have to use reusable or compostable utensils, straws and cocktail picks, though the city is encouraging businesses to consider not providing straws altogether or switch to paper rather than compostable plastic straws.

"Plastic pollution is surpassing crisis levels in the world's oceans, and I'm proud Seattle is leading the way and setting an example for the nation by enacting a plastic straw ban," Seattle Public Utilities General Manager Mami Hara said in a statement last month.

Proposals to ban plastic straws are being considered in other cities, including New York and San Francisco.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Theresa May announced in April a plan to ban the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds. She called plastic waste "one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world."

Smaller cities in California, including Malibu and San Luis Obispo, have restricted the use of plastic straws. San Luis Obispo requires single-use straws only be provided in restaurants, bars and cafes when customers ask for them. City officials said most customers will say "no" if asked if they want a straw.

Seattle's ban is part of a 2008 ordinance that requires restaurants and other food-service businesses to find recyclable or compostable alternatives to disposable containers, cups, straws, utensils and other products.

The city had allowed exemptions for some products until alternatives could be found. With multiple manufacturers offering alternatives, the city let the exemption for plastic utensils and straws run out over the weekend.

Environmental advocates have been pushing for restaurants and other businesses to ditch single-use straws, saying they can't be recycled and end up in the ocean, polluting the water and harming sea life.

A "Strawless in Seattle" campaign last fall by the Lonely Whale Foundation involving more than 100 businesses voluntarily helped remove 2.3 million single-use plastic straws.

Supporters say it will take more than banning plastic straws to curb ocean pollution but that ditching them is a good first step and a way to start a conversation about waste and ocean conservation.

Seattle urged businesses to use up their existing inventory of plastic utensils and straws before Sunday. Those who weren't able to use up their supply have been told to work with the city on a compliance schedule.

Businesses that don't comply may face a fine of up to $250, but city officials say they will work with businesses to make the changes.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Seattle announced Monday that it is the first major city in the United States to bar restaurants from serving plastic utensils and straws to its customers.

KIRO reports that Seattle, a city home to more than 5,000 food service providers, is the first in the nation to ban the plastic items as of Monday, and the city claims it is doing it to become more environmentally friendly.

Starting July 1, restaurants in Seattle are not allowed to give customers plastic straws, utensils, or cocktail picks unless a customer specifically asks for one—and in that case, the city urges restaurants to give customers a “compostable option,” according to a notice released by Seattle Public Utilities.

Customers who need to use flexible plastic straws for medical reasons will also be able to request them from restaurants.

“Plastic pollution is surpassing crisis levels in the world’s oceans, and I’m proud Seattle is leading the way and setting an example for the nation by enacting a plastic straw ban,” Mami Hara, the general manager of Seattle Public Utilities, told KOMO.

City officials encouraged restaurants to use their remaining supply of plastic utensils and straws before July but asked the restaurants to contact Seattle Public Utilities if they could not meet that deadline.

Seattle’s latest ban originated from a 2008 ordinance banning one-time use items for food service but rolled out exemptions for certain items every year since then, the Seattle Times reported.</s>Seattle’s Ban on Plastic Straws and Utensils Now in Effect

Looking for a straw to sip your soda? It’s no longer allowed in Seattle bars and restaurants.

Neither are plastic utensils in a push to reduce marine plastic pollution. Businesses that sell food or drinks won’t be allowed to offer the plastic items under a rule that went into effect Sunday.

The Seattle Times reports that it’s believed to be the first major U.S. city to ban single-use plastic straws and utensils in food service.

Seattle Public Utilities says a 2008 ordinance has phased out various plastic products from the food industry. Businesses can use compostable utensils, straws and cocktail picks. – READ MORE</s>- Seattle has officially become the first major U.S. city to ban restaurants from giving plastic straws and utensils to customers in an effort to help the environment.

Starting July 1, restaurants in the Emerald City are now barred from providing customers plastic straws, cocktail picks or utensils unless someone specifically requests one. Then, a customer should be given a compostable option, according to Seattle Public Utilities.

With 5,000 food service providers in the area, Seattle is the first major city in the U.S. to enact such a ban, KIRO-TV reported.

“Plastic pollution is surpassing crisis levels in the world’s oceans, and I’m proud Seattle is leading the way and setting an example for the nation by enacting a plastic straw ban,” Mami Hara, the general manager of Seattle Public Utilities, told KOMO News.

The National Park Service estimates 500 million straws are used by Americans each day.</s>Looking for a plastic straw to sip your soda? If you’re in Seattle, you’re out of luck. A city ban on plastic straws and utensils in bars and restaurants went in effect Sunday, in the latest push to reduce waste and prevent marine plastic pollution.

Seattle is believed to be the first major U.S. city to ban single-use plastic straws and utensils in food service, according to Seattle Public Utilities. The eco-conscious city has been an environmental leader in the U.S., working to aggressively curb the amount of trash that goes into landfills by requiring more options that can be recycled or composted.

The city’s 5,000 restaurants will now have to use reusable or compostable utensils, straws and cocktail picks, though the city is encouraging businesses to consider not providing straws altogether or switch to paper rather than compostable plastic straws.

“Plastic pollution is surpassing crisis levels in the world’s oceans, and I’m proud Seattle is leading the way and setting an example for the nation by enacting a plastic straw ban,” Seattle Public Utilities General Manager Mami Hara said in a statement last month.

Proposals to ban plastic straws are being considered in other cities, including New York and San Francisco.

In the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Theresa May announced in April a plan to ban the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton buds. She called plastic waste “one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world.” India has vowed to ban all single-use plastics in four years’ time.

Seattle’s ban is part of a 2008 ordinance that requires restaurants and other food-service businesses to find recyclable or compostable alternatives to disposable containers, cups, straws, utensils and other products.

Businesses have time to work toward complying with the ban, said Jillian Henze, a spokeswoman for the Seattle Restaurant Alliance, an industry trade group. “We’ve almost had a year to seek out products to protect the environment and give customers a good experience (with alternatives),” she said.

The city had allowed exemptions for some products until alternatives could be found. With multiple manufacturers offering alternatives, the city let the exemption for plastic utensils and straws run out over the weekend.

Environmental advocates have been pushing for restaurants and other businesses to ditch single-use straws, saying they can’t be recycled and end up in the ocean, polluting the water and harming sea life. A “Strawless in Seattle” campaign last fall by the Lonely Whale involving more than 100 businesses voluntarily helped remove 2.3 million single-use plastic straws.

Elsewhere in the U.S., the anti-plastic movement has had mixed success. In Hawaii, legislation to ban plastic straws died this year, with business groups, including the Hawaii Restaurant Association and Hawaii Food Industry Association, testifying against the measure. Furniture giant Ikea has said it would do away with plastics by 2020, while McDonald’s has resisted studying the issue.

Smaller cities in California, including Malibu and San Luis Obispo, have restricted the use of plastic straws. San Luis Obispo requires single-use straws only be provided in restaurants, bars and cafes when customers ask for them. City officials said most customers will say “no” if asked if they want a straw.

Supporters say it will take more than banning plastic straws to curb ocean pollution but that ditching them is a good first step and a way to start a conversation about waste and ocean conservation. By some estimates, Americans use 500 million plastic straws every day, with some parts of the ocean now containing more plastic than fish.

Seattle urged businesses to use up their existing inventory of plastic utensils and straws before Sunday. Those who weren’t able to use up their supply have been told to work with the city on a compliance schedule.

Businesses that don’t comply may face a fine of up to $250, but city officials say they would work with businesses to make the changes.</s>SEATTLE — Looking for a straw to sip your soda? It’s no longer allowed in Seattle bars and restaurants.

Neither are plastic utensils in a push to reduce marine plastic pollution. Businesses that sell food or drinks won’t be allowed to offer the plastic items under a rule that went into effect Sunday.

The Seattle Times reports that it’s believed to be the first major U.S. city to ban single-use plastic straws and utensils in food service.

Seattle Public Utilities says a 2008 ordinance has phased out various plastic products from the food industry. Businesses can use compostable utensils, straws and cocktail picks.

Advocates say plastic items can’t be recycled and many single-use plastics end up in the ocean, polluting the water and harming sea life.

Businesses that don’t comply may face a fine of up to $250.</s>Seattle's ban on plastic straws and utensil now in effect

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle's ban on plastic straws and utensils to reduce marine plastic pollution is now in effect.

Businesses that sell food or drinks will not be allowed to offer the plastic items under a rule that went into effect Sunday.

The Seattle Times reports that Seattle is believed to be the first major U.S. city to ban single-use plastic straws and utensils in food service.

Seattle Public Utilities says the ban is part of a 2008 ordinance that phased out various plastics products from the city's food industry. Businesses can instead use compostable utensils, straws and cocktail picks.

Advocates say such plastic items can't be recycled and many single-use plastics end up in the ocean, polluting the water and harming sea life.

Businesses that don't comply may face a fine of up to $250.</s>Here’s another reason to love Seattle if you don’t already: The gray city just became the first major one in the U.S. to ban plastic straws, utensils, and even cocktail picks.

The city’s been working on this particular ban since last year though it’s been working on phasing out single-use food items since 2008. The ban is finally on and popping as of Sunday. Other major cities like New York and San Francisco have flirted with the idea of banning plastic straws because, well, our obsession with convenience is causing plastic to show up in literally everything (especially our oceans). Seattle, however, has actually done it. My people in the Pacific Northwest do not play when it comes to the environment.

The city encouraged restaurants and bars to finish any plastics they have in stock by Sunday, but no biggie for those that still have straws in storage. The Seattle Public Utilities can help them whip up a “compliance schedule” to avoid any fines. And while plastics are out, compostable paper or plastic straws are available in all restaurants and bars. You just gotta’ request one.

Environmentalists and advocates of reducing waste are hailing this a major accomplishment. Seattle’s city’s not huge, but a party can go through dozens of straws easy in a weekend night out on Capitol Hill.

During other plastic ban discussions, disability advocates have raised concerns around accessibility: Will disabled folks still be able to safely consume foods and beverages when they’re out to eat? Paper straws can fall apart and pose choking hazards. Reusable metal straws can be too strong and cause injury.

Luckily, the Seattle ordinance does not penalize those with disabilities. A flexible plastic straw will be given to anyone who requires it for medical reasons, reports The Seattle Times.

For everyone else, pack your reusable straw for your next trip to the Emerald City.
Seattle becomes the first major U.S. city to ban plastic straws and utensils in all bars and restaurants.