Atlantic Beach Polystyrene Ordinance

On December 13, 2021 the City of Atlantic Beach  unanimously passed  ordinance 95-21-120 to prohibit the sale and distribution of polystyrene EPS on city property and the beach per recommendations of the Green Commission and First Coast Surfrider volunteers and Ocean Friendly Restaurants. This is the first ordinance on the barrier island to prohibit the use, sale, or distribution of polystyrene foam products on city properties and the beach. 

Plastic litter fouls our beaches. EPS polystyrene is lightweight and bouyant and is nearly impossible to clean up as it breaks up with little provocation.  It does not recycle, does not biodegrade, and breaks into microplastics. 

Plastic is made from oil and gas and should be included in any resiliency plan for the state to move away from fossil fuels and carbon emissions. 

Polystyrene has “hidden dangers” to human health that have been linked to endocrine disruption, cancer, vision and hearing loss, birth defects, kidney and liver damage. Marginalized and poor communities have disproportionately taken the brunt of the harmful fumes and incinerators that burn these single-use plastics. 

Polystyrene has been banned in other states and in cities across the US including Florida.  We are asking Atlantic Beach to become another one.

There are numerous alternatives that are ocean friendly, but the Surfrider Foundation always encourages reduction and reuse. This will reduce chemicals that are harmful for our environment and help keep them out of our marine systems, keep waterways clean, and protect our ecology and wildlife.

Further this ordinance saves our taxpayers money and protects our blue economy. In fact, it is tax payers and businesses that shoulder the costs of clean up and the blight of dirty beaches and roadways.  At over 11.5 billion a annual cost for litter clean-up and with businesses are covering almost 80% of the cost, it is something we support to protect the First Coast's people, ecology, beaches, and economy. 

We have a responsibility to our future generations to use ecologically friendly solutions, to think long term and to live sustainably. 

Thanks for going Foam Free, Atlantic Beach! 

ORDINANCE NO. 95-21-120,  AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH, FLORIDA AMENDING CHAPTER 5 OF THE ATLANTIC BEACH CODE OF ORDINANCES, BEACHES AND PARKS, TO ADD NEW SECTION 5-5, PROHIBITION OF THE USE, SALE OR DISTRIBUTION OF POLYSTYRENE FOAM PRODUCTS ON CITY PROPERTIES AND THE BEACH, TO PROVIDE DEFINITIONS AND RENUMBER THE SUBSEQUENT CODE SECTIONS; PROVIDING FOR CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Ordinance No. 95-21-120