Cities That Ban PLA and Plastic Straws
Short answer: as of October 2026, at least 17 US cities and counties ban PLA and other "compostable plastic" straws, not just conventional plastic. Most are in California, including San Francisco, Santa Monica, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Long Beach, Culver City, Calabasas, Laguna Beach, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and all of Marin County. In these places, businesses need straws made from paper or plant fiber, such as bamboo fiber, and most also require straws and utensils to be given only when a customer asks. That on request rule applies to the compliant straws themselves; it does not let a business hand out PLA or plastic straws when asked, except a plastic straw for a customer with a disability.
This matters because many "compostable" straws sold as eco friendly are PLA, a plant based plastic. PLA only breaks down in an industrial composting facility, so these cities treat it like plastic. KGPeco bamboo fiber straws and cutlery are made from bamboo fiber and plant starch, contain no plastic or PLA, and are home compostable.
Cities and counties that ban PLA straws
| Jurisdiction | Law | Effective | What is banned | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | Environment Code Ch. 16 | 2019 | Straws, stirrers, and similar items made with any plastic, including compostable, bio based, or plant based plastic. Compostable foodware must also be PFAS free. | Our San Francisco guide |
| Santa Monica, CA | Disposable Food Service Ware Ordinance | Jan 1, 2019 | Plastic #1 to #6, bioplastic #7 (PLA), and aluminum food service ware, including straws and utensils. Straws and utensils on request only. | Our Santa Monica guide |
| Malibu, CA | Municipal Code 9.24.045 | June 1, 2018 | Plastic and bioplastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery. Alternatives on request. | Our Malibu guide |
| Manhattan Beach, CA | Ordinance 18-0016 | 2018, enforced 2019 | Straws, stirrers, lid plugs, and utensils, including bioplastics (PLA #7). On request only. | Our Manhattan Beach guide and City page |
| Hermosa Beach, CA | Municipal Code 8.64 | July 1, 2020 | Straws, stirrers, and utensils may not be of plastic origin, including bioplastics. On request only. | Our Hermosa Beach guide and City guide |
| Redondo Beach, CA | Municipal Code 5-10 | 2021 | Plastic straws, stirrers, and utensils, defined to include compostable bio based polymers. On request only. | Our Redondo Beach guide and Municipal code |
| Long Beach, CA | Municipal Code 8.63 | Feb 1, 2019 | Straws may not be plastic or bioplastic. On request only. | Our Long Beach guide and City FAQ |
| Culver City, CA | Municipal Code 5.07 | Jan 1, 2022 | Plastic and PLA straws, stirrers, and lid plugs, and PLA #7 utensils. | Our Culver City guide and City page |
| Calabasas, CA | Municipal Code 8.19 | 2019 | Straws, stirrers, and cutlery, including compostable bio based polymers. On request only. | Our Calabasas guide and City document |
| Laguna Beach, CA | Municipal Code 7.05 | July 15, 2021 | Straws and cutlery, including compostable and biodegradable bio based polymers. On request only. | Our Laguna Beach guide and Municipal code |
| Santa Barbara, CA | Municipal Code 9.165 | 2018, amended 2026 | Straws, stirrers, and cutlery, including compostable or bio based polymers. On request only. | Our guide and Municipal code |
| Goleta, CA | Municipal Code 8.18 | June 1, 2023 | Straws, stirrers, and utensils, including compostable or bio based polymers. On request only. | Our guide and Municipal code |
| Carpinteria, CA | Municipal Code 8.50 | Feb 22, 2024 | Accessories must be non plastic; the city does not accept bioplastic because its compost program cannot process PLA. On request only. | Our guide |
| Monterey, CA | City Code 14-16 | Apr 22, 2019 | Plastic straws, with plastic defined to include bio based polymers. On request only. | Our guide and Municipal code |
| Pacific Grove, CA | Municipal Code 11.98 | Apr 22, 2020 | All single use straws, including PLA and bioplastic. On request only. | Our guide and Municipal code |
| Marin County, CA | County Code 7.25 and matching city ordinances | Nov 10, 2023 | Straws, utensils, and stirrers must be natural fiber compostable, no bioplastics. Applies in unincorporated Marin and nearly every Marin city and town. | Our guide and County page |
| Southampton, NY | Town Code 212 | May 8, 2019 | Plastic straws and stirrers, including bio based polymers. Straws must be non plastic. | Town code |
Nearly all of these laws still allow a plastic straw for a customer with a disability who asks for one. This page is a plain language summary, not legal advice, and local rules change. Check the linked city source or your local environmental office before relying on it.
Places that still allow PLA straws
Some well known straw laws do not ban compostable plastic. Seattle allows compostable paper or plastic straws, Washington DC accepts BPI certified compostable straws including PLA, and Honolulu's ban covers only petroleum based plastic. California's statewide law, AB 1884, only requires full service restaurants to give plastic straws on request. In unincorporated Los Angeles County, single use foodware must be compostable or recyclable; see our LA County and California rules summary.
What works everywhere on this list
- Regular 6 mm straws for water, soda, iced coffee, and tea.
- Smoothie 8 mm straws for shakes and juices.
- Boba 12 mm straws for tapioca pearls, in 9 inch and 4.25 inch lengths.
- Cocktail straws for bars and tastings.
- Bamboo fiber cutlery: forks, spoons, sporks, knives, and soup spoons.
Our straws are BPI certified (listing #10529008) and CMA certified, stay firm in hot and cold drinks, and leave no paper taste. See how they compare in our bamboo fiber vs paper vs PLA vs PHA guide.
Free samples for businesses
If your city is on this list, we will send free samples so you can test a compliant straw in your own drinks. Request free samples, see wholesale ordering, or call 323-880-0899.