MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle’s plastic straw and utensil ban takes effect July 1 for all food providers

Jun 19, 2018, 2:02 PM | Updated: 2:03 pm

straws, greenpeace...

Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise ship is docked on Lake Union. It studies micro-plastics in our oceans. (KTTH/Jason Rantz)

(KTTH/Jason Rantz)

Seattle will become the first major city in the U.S. to enact a plastic straw and utensil ban on July 1.

RELATED: Safeco Field beats city of Seattle to plastic straw ban

The 5,000 permitted food service providers will be banned from giving you a that plastic fork or plastic straw. On Tuesday, city and environmental leaders touted the new ban aboard Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise ship in Lake Union, which studies micro-plastics in our oceans.

“It’s taking a stand on plastic pollution,” Kate Melges of Greenpeace told KIRO 7. “And really taking a stand on what needs to happen, a ban on all single-use plastic products.”

Greenpeace says 40 percent of plastics found in the ocean are from single-use plastics like straws and utensils.

The plastic utensil ban is actually part of a 2008 city ordinance that city leaders say wasn’t realistic because businesses didn’t have other options.

Duke Moscrip, founder and CEO of Duke’s Seafood and Chowder, made the switch three years ago to all compostable straws and utensils.

“When this started out they were about 30-40 percent more expensive than petroleum-based products,” Moscrip told KIRO 7. “Now it’s about 10 percent. But we did it anyway, just because it’s the right thing to do.”

Now other cities, including Los Angeles and New York City, are considering following Seattle’s lead.

“So, what we’re starting to see, based on the work Seattle has done, is it’s really empowering communities all over the world,” Lonely Whale Executive Director Dune Ives said. “To say you know we actually don’t need  plastic straws, and it’s not difficult to remove it.”

RELATED: Ron asks, how am I going to live my life around a reusable straw?

As for enforcement, the city is not planning any fines, but instead working with restaurants found still using plastic utensils.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced there will be 16 new preschool classrooms across Se...

Julia Dallas

Harrell’s office announces Seattle preschool slots for thousands of kids

Thousands more families will have the chance to start their children's Seattle preschool education earlier, thanks to a program launching.

6 hours ago

Digital...

Micki Gamez

How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Chances are, if your teen has a cell phone or tablet, they either know someone or they have been the victim of an online sex crime because kids as young as seven are online more than ever. My interest in this story began almost the same time last year when my daughter came home and […]

10 hours ago

Pierce County Jail...

Bill Kaczaraba

Pierce County Corrections chief at odds with the employee guild

The Corrections Bureau's Guild has issued Patti Jackson a vote of 'no confidence,' as reported by The Tacoma News Tribune.

11 hours ago

Image: A Seattle Police Department vehicle seen during the day...

Sam Campbell

Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

SWAT officers surrounded a complex in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after police said a man stabbed a guard barricaded himself inside.

13 hours ago

seattle indecent exposure...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle man arrested for 14 counts of indecent exposure, most near schools

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Seattle police (SPD) in connection to 14 counts of indecent exposure near Lake Forest Park.

13 hours ago

Federal Way shootings...

Bill Kaczaraba

Federal Way Police say two shootings are related

Police believe two shootings in Federal Way are related.

15 hours ago

Seattle’s plastic straw and utensil ban takes effect July 1 for all food providers