This is part of an information update sent out by the Florida Springs Council on what is happening now in the Florida Legislature. This bill is crucial to keeping trash out of our waterways.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
Plastics
The fight to protect our natural resources continues. Another concerning set of bills is also making its way through the Legislature, HB 1641 (Rep. Yeager) and SB 1126 (Senator Martin). These terrible bills prevent local governments – and state agencies like the Florida Department of Environmental Protection – from regulating single-use containers.
In last week’s House Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee meeting, Rep. Yeager (HB 1641 sponsor) made it clear the bill would retroactively eliminate any existing container regulations in the State. This would impact rules already in place to protect waterways within state parks like the Ichetucknee River, Rainbow River, and Weeki Wachee River as well as many coastal communities. The bills are in direct contradiction to two state-funded studies about regulating trash and, if passed, they will result in more trash ending up in our local waterways.
SB 1126 and HB 1641 have already made it through one committee stop in each Chamber, but we do not know when they will be on the agenda again. We will send an action alert as soon as they are, but for now, we ask that you share this information with your local park groups, conservation organizations, neighbors, city council, and county commission, especially if you live in an area with plastic regulations already in place.
SB 1126 and HB 1641 would take away local government’s home rule and ability to regulate any single use or reusable cup, bottle, bag, or other packaging designed for transporting, consuming, or protecting merchandise, food, or beverages from a retail or food establishment. Plastic pollution impacts Florida’s rivers and coasts, harms wildlife, and contaminates our drinking water supply. Last year, nearly 75% of the trash collected out of North Central Florida’s waterways were single-used plastics, which could no longer be regulated if these bills become law.
Springs protectors, let’s continue this work together to keep our springs, rivers and coasts clean.
Thank you for being a dedicated springs advocate,
Ryan Smart
FSC Executive Director
