Community Corner
Alternatives To Single-Use Plastics Straws In Wauwatosa
The ordinance prohibiting plastic straws goes into effect on July 10, 2020. Here's a list of alternatives to plastic straws for business.
July 2, 2020
On March 3, 2020, the Wauwatosa Common Council passed an ordinance prohibiting single-use plastic straws in Wauwatosa. No establishment serving food or drinks to the public may provide a customer with a single-use plastic straw.
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When does this ordinance go into effect?
July 10, 2020
Are there exceptions to this ordinance?
- Prepackaged individual serving beverages where a small plastic straw is included in the packaging
- Upon a customer’s request
- Milkshakes, smoothies, or other beverages that require a large, durable straw for which a non-plastic straw would not be suitable
- Compostable straws. The City of Wauwatosa’s Sustainability Committee will publish a list of acceptable compostable straws on wauwatosa.net
- Plastic straws in hospitals, nursing homes, or other healthcare facilities
How does the City enforce this ordinance?
During health inspections, City of Wauwatosa staff will remind establishments of the local ordinance related to single-use plastic straws.
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What alternatives to plastic straws can businesses use?
Our Sustainability Committee recommends the following resources to find alternatives to plastic straws:
The compostable straw must meet the requirements for ASTM 06400 or ASTM 06868, whichever is appropriate, or is certified or accepted by the Biodegradable Products Institute or the Compost Manufacturing Alliance and is accepted by local industrial composters for Wauwatosa. These straws may not be compostable in a backyard or home composting environment.
This press release was produced by the City of Wauwatosa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.