Reduce Plastic Pollution in Florida

Each year, an estimated 7,000 tons of wasteful plastic pollution enters the ocean in Florida, posing a major threat to our waterways and marine environments, public health, and tourism-driven economy. Clean water and healthy coasts are tremendous economic assets in Florida – our waterways and beaches draw millions of visitors to the state every year and support over a million jobs. Reducing plastic pollution and marine debris helps protect these assets for Floridians today and for future generations. 

Surfrider has long fought for practical measures to reduce single-use plastic pollution and marine debris. Over the last decade, many surveys and reports have shown the negative impacts of plastic pollution and the widespread public support for addressing this issue in Florida:

• Exposure to chemicals from plastics and microplastics are harmful to human health and contaminate seafood and marine life.
• Microplastic pollution is abundant along the South Florida Reef Tract – the only living barrier coral reef in the continental United States – and contributes to coral mortality and environmental degradation.
• A 2021 Florida International University study estimates that plastic pollution costs Florida $7 billion annually in lost tourism dollars.
• In the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) 2021 Retail Bags Report, 4 out of 5 stakeholder groups (local government, retailer, resident, recycling facility) supported additional regulations on single-use plastics rather than voluntary, consumer-based solutions.
• A 2022 Oceana study found that 87% of Florida voters support local, state, and national policies that reduce single-use plastics.

State leadership is needed to protect our ocean and coasts and the ecosystems, livelihoods, public health, and economies that depend on them. SB240, sponsored by Senator Garcia, offers a pragmatic and productive path forward to do just that. The legislation builds off of concepts and ideas that have been in consideration for year and put forward by FDEP in reports to the Legislature. The bill seeks to find balance in providing local governments with effective ways to reduce the harmful impacts of debris and pollution while providing more clarity and uniformity.

The bill would:

• Allow local governments to regulate glass, polystyrene (expanded foam), and plastic single-use auxiliary containers on public property.
• Grandfather in existing local ordinances.
• Direct FDEP to develop a uniform local ordinance regarding auxiliary containers for local governments to adopt and a statewide Marine Debris Reduction Plan.
• Prohibit the sale or distribution of certain single-use auxiliary containers in Florida State Parks.

Surfrider is working alongside many dedicated partners, including the Florida Springs Council, Oceana, Sea Turtle Conservancy, and Volunteercleanup.org, to advance this important legislation during the 2026 Session. Our Florida network looks forward to enthusiastically supporting this solution-oriented bill as we fight for healthy beaches and thriving communities across Florida.