SARASOTA COUNTY – Florida Senator Gruters is pushing to allow a smoking ban on beaches and parks.
Cigarette butts have been the number one item found on Florida beaches for the past 31 years and counting, according to Ocean Conservancy.
“We want freedom, but at the same time we want quiet and peaceful enjoyment of families being able to go out and enjoy the beach, without putting their hands in the sand, and picking up some of these cigarette butts,” said State Senator, Joe Gruters.
State Senator, Joe Gruters introduced a bill last year that would allow local governments to ban smoking on public beaches and in both city and state parks.
“This will just give the power and return the ability to local governments and give them the chance to do what’s best for their communities,” said Senator Gruters.
Gruters suggested the idea or creating designating smoking areas at beaches without disrupting other families.
While cigarette butts significantly impact wildlife, they also serve as a major part of plastic pollution. The tightly packed plastic fibers in a cigarette butts erode into smaller bits, which can accumulate in fish and other organisms.
“People like us, who consume shellfish and fish are actually consuming that plastic, and every year Americans consume the amount of plastic from micro plastics that’s the size of about a credit card,” said Director of Florida Conservation for Ocean Conservancy.
Too much plastic can also affect sand temperature by collecting more heat from the sun disrupting sea turtle nests, threatening healthy reproduction.
“Enjoying Florida’s most precious resource, and that’s our beaches and our waterways so I’m optimistic that this is going to pass,” said Senator Gruters.
While Florida already bans smoking at indoor workspaces and restaurants, cities and counties can’t yet enact local ordinances to further restrict smoking.
