If you plan on enjoying Miami Beach this year, make sure you don’t bring Styrofoam.
A city-wide ban was issued last year and now violators could face a ticket up to $500 as of Sept. 16.
Why was Styofoam banned?
According to Miami Beach officials, Expanded polystyrene is a petroleum based plastic product. It is not biodegradable and cannot be recycled. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it can have serious impacts on human health, wildlife, and the aquatic environment. Polystyrene also contains toxic substances such as Styrene and Benzene, which are known carcinogens.
What can I bring instead?
Compostable plastics, Fiber, Wheat straw/ Plant-fiber and Miscellaneous plastic materials. For more info, click here.
How much is a ticket for violators?
First-time violators will be issued a $50 ticket, second-time violators within a year will face a $100 ticket and a third offense will be a $500 ticket.
Officials want to make sure the public is aware about the ban and will begin issuing tickets on Sep. 16.
‘The City of Miami Beach encourages residents and businesses to use reusable containers which are less impactful than Styrofoam and help reduce waste headed for the County’s landfills,” officials said in a news release.
Miami Beach is going foam free. Beginning Sept 2016, the styrofoam ban will be fully enforced #MBRisingAbove pic.twitter.com/0z1ldEQr0M
— City of Miami Beach (@MiamiBeachNews) July 27, 2016
In June, Miami-Dade commissioners passed a similar ordinance banning Styrofoam products at some popular places across the county.