Palm Beach bans plastic bags and polystyrene containers

The town of Palm Beach, Fla., recently voted to do away with single-use plastic bags and polystyrene containers, The Palm Beach Post reports.

According to the paper, local legislators recently voted to pass an ordinance banning the items by an unanimous margin, making the town the first municipality in Palm Beach County to enact such a measure.

{mosads}The ban, which is not scheduled to take effect until December, will reportedly be enforced in restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, drug stores and a number of other eateries and vendors.

Those with special permits to host events in the are will also reportedly be subjected to the ban once it takes effect. 

Kirk Blouin, the town manager, told the paper that “the research has shown us these items are bad for the environment, particularly marine life, and it just makes sense to regulate it.”

“We are all creatures of habit. Once we get used to a good habit, it becomes second nature to us,” he continued.

According to The Post, local lawmakers are also working on legislation banning single-use plastic straws and stirrers.