Ban Butts from Our Beaches, Miami Beach

Victory! On September 14, 2022 the Miami Beach City Commission passed an ordinance banning cigarette smoking in its parks and beaches. Surfrider Foundation Miami Chapter led a social media campaign in support of the ordinance and sent letters to the commission in support of the ordinance during its first and second reading. 

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 broadly supports local municipal efforts to enact smoking bans and prevent the harmful effects of cigarette butt litter.

Surfrider Foundation Miami Chapter looks forward to picking up less cigarette butt litter on Miami Beach during their future beach clean-ups when the law takes effect in 2023.