Gainesville’s attorney recommended that commissioners rescind its plastic-bag and Styrofoam ban.
Gainesville commissioners rejected their city attorney’s recommendation Thursday to rescind an ordinance that bans businesses from giving out single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam containers.
The ban, which has been discussed for nearly a year, will take effect in January 2020.
The 5-1 decision on Thursday comes days after Gainesville and Alachua County commissioners received letters from the Florida Retail Federation demanding the bans be reversed, calling it unlawful. Commissioner Helen Warren voted in dissent and Commissioner Gigi Simmons was absent.
“Plastics are destroying our environment,” Commissioner Adrian Hayes-Santos said. “If we don’t take a stand in our community to protect our area, no one else will.”
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