In a 3-2 vote, Stuart city commissioners have repealed a plastic straw ban that was in place since 2019. According to WPBF, the ban was originally implemented to reduce the number of plastic straws entering the waste stream and help reduce environmental pollution.
The discussion around the ban shifted when the mayor raised concerns about alternatives to plastic straws, specifically pointing out that some replacements contain "forever chemicals" that do not decompose easily, as mentioned in the same report. These comments led city commissioners to reconsider the ban.
As WPTV reported, the decision allows businesses in Stuart to use plastic straws again.
