Ban Butts from Our Beaches, St. Pete

Victory! The city of St. Petersburg passed an ordinance banning cigarette smoking on municipally owned beaches, parks, and piers. 

St. Pete's world renowned beaches along Florida's Gulf will now be protected from the harmful and toxic impact of cigarette butt litter.

In June, Surfrider’s Florida network celebrated the passage of HB105 Regulation of Smoking by Counties and Municipalities. Surfrider has long advocated for banning smoking on Florida’s beaches as a pathway to reduce plastic pollution and prevent cigarette litter from entering waterways and harming marine life. Under the new law effective July 1, 2022 Florida counties and municipalities can restrict smoking within the boundaries of any public beach or park they own, except for unfiltered cigars. Surfrider's Suncoast Chapter took action and provided model ordinance language to the City Council for adoption, met with council members to express their support, and launched a social media campaign to raise awareness in the local community to take action. 

Surfrider celebrates this victory and continues to support local municipal efforts in Florida to enact beach smoking bans and prevent the harmful effects of cigarette butt litter.