Statewide Plastic Straw Ban Proposed By Sen. Patty Kuderer

BELLEVUE, WA - If you still use plastic straws to sip drinks, you might need to finally grow out of the habit.

Bellevue state Sen. Patty Kuderer has filed a bill that would ban the use of plastic straws across the state. More precisely, the law would ban straws "made predominantly of plastic derived from either petroleum or a biologically based polymer, such as corn or other plant sources, and including compostable and biodegradable petroleum or biologically based polymer straws."

Last summer, Seattle's plastic straw ban went in effect. In many Seattle restaurants, plastic straws have been replaced by paper or biodegradable ones. The ban was partly inspired by a visit Kuderer got by a group of AP government students from the Lake Washington School District.

Although the ban is meant to reduce plastic waste from getting into ocean, disability rights activists worry such laws ignore medical necessity. But Kuderer's law directs the state Department of Health to figure out how to provide needed straws to individuals and health care facilities.

If passed, the ban would go into effect July 1, 2020. Violators would be fined $25 per day they flout the law, but not more than $300 per year. County health departments would get to keep the fine revenue, according to Kuderer's bill.

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