Floriduh GOP Bill Would Further Restrict Any Attempts To Limit Plastics, Aluminum, Cardboard, Glass, Etc.

More than 15 years ago, state lawmakers passed legislation to further control local governments from banning single-use plastics in Florida.

Now, members of the GOP-controlled Legislature and the Florida business establishment want to go further in removing municipalities and counties from regulating the use of so-called “auxiliary containers,” which would go beyond single-use or renewable plastics to include bags, cups, bottles or other packaging made of cloth, paper, plastic, cardboard, molded fiber, corrugated material, aluminum and glass. The proposal (SB 1126) is sponsored by Fort Myers-based Republican Jonathan Martin, who introduced the measure before the Senate and Commerce Tourism Committee on Tuesday.

Plastic pollution has been linked to a variety of negative issues, including infertility and cancer in humans to severe injury and death in wildlife, according to a report from the National Defense Resources Council. As of this month, 13 states now ban the use of plastic carryout bags statewide, according to the Retail Industry Leaders Association. That same organization says that Florida is among 19 states that have placed limitations on regulating plastic carryout bags, either in state statute or in their constitution based on July 2023 data.

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Martin emphasized that the bill does not legalize littering, and he said he’d be “happy” to work with the environmental organizations that spoke out against the bill to strengthen the current laws against littering and “perhaps even entering some mandatory minimum requirements for community service” of those found guilty of littering. The measure was approved by the committee, 4-0.

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https://floridaphoenix.com/2024/01/16/the-florida-legislature-wants-to-expand-the-control-over-regulating-plastics/