The Oakland, Calif., City Council voted unanimously to pass an ordinance that will prohibit the use of single-use plastic straws in Oakland’s restaurants, bars and cafes unless requested. This ordinance goes hand-in-hand with ordinances in Santa Cruz County and the cities of Alameda, Davis and Manhattan Beach.

The City Council is expected to review similar ordinances for single-use containers, utensils and other disposable foodservice ware within the next six months.

BCN has more:

The Oakland City Council has voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that will prohibit the use of single-use plastic straws in the city's restaurants, bars and cafes unless customers ask for them.

City Councilman Abel Guillen, who authored the ordinance, said in a statement, "Plastic straws pose a long-term threat to marine life, waterways and natural habitats, such as Lake Merritt, and eventually local residents by way of food consumption and collateral environmental effects."

Guillen said, "There are easy, convenient and economical ways around this environmental health problem, like 'straw on request only' rules, and Oakland should be a leader in this effort."

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