Reduce Plastic Pollution in Florida

Each year, an estimated 7,000 tons of wasteful plastic pollution enters the ocean in Florida, posing a major threat to our waterways and marine environments, public health, and tourism-driven economy. Clean water and healthy coasts are tremendous economic assets in Florida – our waterways and beaches draw millions of visitors to the state every year and support over a million jobs. Reducing plastic pollution and marine debris helps protect these assets for Floridians today and for future generations. 

Surfrider has long fought for practical measures to reduce single-use plastic pollution and marine debris. Over the last decade, many surveys and reports have shown the negative impacts of plastic pollution and the widespread public support for addressing this issue in Florida:

• Exposure to chemicals from plastics and microplastics are harmful to human health and contaminate seafood and marine life.
• Microplastic pollution is abundant along the South Florida Reef Tract – the only living barrier coral reef in the continental United States – and contributes to coral mortality and environmental degradation.
• A 2021 Florida International University study estimates that plastic pollution costs Florida $7 billion annually in lost tourism dollars.
• In the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) 2021 Retail Bags Report, 4 out of 5 stakeholder groups (local government, retailer, resident, recycling facility) supported additional regulations on single-use plastics rather than voluntary, consumer-based solutions.
• A 2022 Oceana study found that 87% of Florida voters support local, state, and national policies that reduce single-use plastics.

State leadership is needed to protect our ocean and coasts and the ecosystems, livelihoods, public health, and economies that depend on them. SB240 Auxiliary Containers, sponsored by Senator Ileana Garcia, and HB575 Auxiliary Containers, sponsored by Representative Meg Weinberger, offer a pragmatic and productive path forward to do just that. The legislation builds off of concepts and ideas that have been in consideration for year and put forward by FDEP in reports to the Legislature. The bills seek to find balance in providing local governments with effective ways to reduce the harmful impacts of debris and pollution while providing more clarity and uniformity.

The bill would:

• Allow local governments to regulate glass, polystyrene (expanded foam), and single-use plastic auxiliary containers on public property.
• Grandfather in existing local ordinances.
• Direct FDEP to develop and a statewide Marine Debris Reduction Plan and a uniform ordinance regarding auxiliary containers for local governments to adopt moving forward.
• Prohibit the sale or distribution of certain single-use auxiliary containers to the greatest extent possible in Florida State Parks.

Surfrider is working alongside many dedicated partners, including the Florida Springs Council, Oceana, Sea Turtle Conservancy, and Volunteercleanup.org, to advance this important legislation during the 2026 Session. Our Florida network looks forward to enthusiastically supporting this solution-oriented bill as we fight for healthy beaches and thriving communities across Florida.

Legislative Updates

✅ SB240/HB575 - Good Bills for Reducing Pollution & Marine Debris

SB240 Auxiliary Containers passed its first Senate Committee Meeting unanimously on Tuesday, November 18! We thank Senator Garcia, sponsor of SB240, for introducing this good bill for pollution reduction. At the committee meeting, Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, a co-sponsor of SB240, noted that he heard from thousands of Floridians in support of this bill. Surfrider members contacted committee members ahead of the vote and provided public comment at the meeting. Senator Shevrin Jones and Senator Jennifer Bradley have also joined as co-sponsors of SB240.

Representative Weinberger filed HB565 Auxiliary Containers on December 2, 2025. Rep. Weinberger was instrumental in preventing the bad trash preemption language from passing as an amendment on her bill at the end of session last year. Representative Fabian Basabe is a co-sponsor of HB575. 

❌ SB766/HB629 - Bad Trash Bills

Unfortunately, the bad trash bills that we have successfully fought the last two years are back. SB766 Waste Management (sponsored by Senator Martin) and HB629 Regulation of Auxiliary Containers (sponsored by Representative Esposito) would eliminate existing local regulations on single-use containers and strip local governments of their authority to act in the future. While these bills include a few narrow exceptions for certain containers, they overwhelmingly prevent actions to reduce plastic pollution and marine debris and do not provide any plan for addressing these growing problems.

How to Take Action!

1. Encourage the House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee to place HB575 Auxiliary Containers on the meeting agenda this Thursday, February 12. It is important for this good pollution reduction bill to be heard in the House (the Senate bill has passed its first committee stop).

Contact Committee Leadership & Encourage HB575 Auxiliary Containers on the Feb. 12 Agenda:

• Chair Adam Botana - 850-717-5080; adam.botana@flhouse.gov
• Vice Chair Jim Mooney - 850-717-5120; jim.mooney@flhouse.gov

Sample Script: *Please remember to be polite and respectful. This is a good bill and we are building support for it!

Hello, my name is XX. Please put HB575 Auxiliary Containers on the Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee agenda for February 12. This bill provides a measured plan to address marine debris and plastic pollution in our waterways, beaches, and communities. [You can add your a personal note about your favorite beaches or waters; experience seeing or cleaning up trash in your favorite places; or other personal connections.] Thank you!

2. Add your name to Surfrider’s support for SB240/HB575 during the 2026 Legislative Session here.

Stay up to date with all of our ocean and coastal legislative priorities here!