Frequently Asked Questions
Miami Beach is a unique coastal community that sits between the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the ecologically diverse Biscayne Bay. As a city that is rich in natural resources, we understand the importance of keeping our streets, waterways, and ecological habitats healthy. The reduction of single-use plastic will help protect these natural elements by:
- Decreasing the demand on natural resources to produce plastic;
- Reducing the production of greenhouse gas emissions;
- Protecting wildlife from ingesting plastic debris/litter
- Reducing litter in waterways and beaches;
- Allowing the city’s stormwater system to function adequately and debris free
Learn more about the impacts of plastic pollution.
The City has adopted many Ordinances to support the City's waste reduction and recycling goals, promote environmental health, protect wildlife, and conserve resources. In conjunction with these ordinances, the city launched the #PlasticFreeMB campaign along with a certification program for businesses to pledge to reduce and/or remove certain types of plastics from their establishments.
Business owners can help by opting to use alternatives materials or switch over to reusable materials within their establishments. In addition, businesses can pledge to become a part of an esteemed network of businesses in Miami Beach that have vowed to help keep the city plastic free. Learn more about #PlasticFreeMB here: Business Program
Shop in style: Always have reusable bags. With the many options available for reusable bags, you can definitely find out that suits your style better than ugly plastic bags.
Drink in style: Always have a reusable bottle or cup handy.
Eat in Style: Say no to plastic cutlery. Opt for using the utensils you already have at home when ordering out.
Go strawless: Decline any straws or stirrers that may come with your beverage or if you really need one, get yourself a reusable straw.
Go topless: Do you really need the plastic top to that coffee or smoothie cup? Unless you’re going for a joy ride, you may not really need it.
Spread the word: Tell your family, friends, and neighbors about the importance of reducing single-use plastic.
Share the program: Tell your favorite stores and restaurant and tell them to pledge to become a #plasticfreemb business.
The City of Miami Beach has Ordinances that ban certain single-use plastics like plastic straws and stirrers, polystyrene (Styrofoam) and balloons in public spaces. If you see a business using these items, let us know so we can help bring them into compliance.
To report a violation, contact Code Compliance at 305.673.8285 or report online.
The short answer is no. Although composting is a great option when reducing plastic use, our region does not offer large-scale composting. Additionally, compostable plastics are not accepted at most recycling facilities in South Florida. Furthermore compostable plastics typically require industrial composting which is not municipally available within our region.
If your home or business has a composting bin, then compostable plastic may work for you depending on the material of the product. Compostable plastics can take several months to biodegrade and are still considered litter if not disposed of properly.
An important action to keep in mind is to reduce dependency on single-use plastic before considering reusing and recycling.
Keep in mind that our plastic straw/stirrer ordinance does not allow for biodegradable or compostable plastics as substitutes.
No. We highly recommend choosing reusable materials or items that are derived from natural products such as bamboo, sugarcane, and other highly biodegradable products. It's also important to note waste management services are provided by a small group of contracted waste/recycling companies. These companies only accept certain types of plastic to recycle. The recycling symbol and the number on a container do not necessarily indicate whether a product is recyclable. We recommend recycling by shape. Consider items such bottles, jars and jugs which are the most highly accepted materials at a recycling facility.
The easiest way to identify plastic or biodegradable plastics is by looking for products that contain "poly" within their description. The most common plastics are:
- Plastic #1: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
- Plastic #2: High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
- Plastic #3: Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
- Plastic #4: Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)
- Plastic #5: Polypropylene (PP)
- Plastic #6: Polystyrene (PS)
- Plastic #7: Other
- EPS: Expanded Polystyrene
Some biodegradable plastics include:
- Polypropylene Carbonate
- Polylactide-based plastics (PLA)
Although these plastics claim to be biodegradable, they take a significant amount of time to biodegrade and have the same environmental impact as regular plastics. Plastics that claim to be compostable often require a large-scale composting facility and a specific environment to completely biodegrade.
The city recommends looking at reusable materials such as utensils, plates, cups, etc. The upfront investment to purchase the reusable materials will definitely pay off in the short run and you will produce less waste.
Some vendors have worked with the City and can provide discounts for our local businesses. You can find more information in the link below:
Yes! Are you interested in joining #PlasticFreeMB but located outside of Miami Beach? Luckily, there is still a way for you to get involved! We have designed the #PlasticFreeMB program to be easily transferrable to other cities so that they can set up their own version of the program. We will provide your city with all necessary branding and information on setting up your #PlasticFree program so that you can just focus on getting your businesses to eliminate single-use plastics. We want to make it as simple as possible for other cities to start their own #PlasticFree programs so that we can all work towards the common goal of sustainability and plastic reduction. To set up your city’s #PlasticFree program or to learn more about this program, please email Sustainability@miamibeachfl.gov.
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