Vermont Act 69 requires food service establishments to provide plastic straws only upon customer request. Burlington restaurants and cafes cannot proactively distribute plastic straws but may offer alternatives freely.
Vermont Act 69 of 2019 introduced a request-only rule for plastic straws statewide effective July 1, 2020. Burlington restaurants, coffee shops, and food trucks may not automatically include plastic straws with beverages or place them on counters for self-service. Plastic straws must be provided only when a customer specifically requests one. Compostable, paper, and reusable straws may be offered freely without restriction. Drive-throughs and take-out orders follow the same rule. The policy aims to reduce plastic waste in Lake Champlain and Vermont waterways.
Establishments distributing plastic straws without customer request face civil penalties from the Vermont Attorney General and warnings on first offense.
Burlington, VT
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Burlington, VT
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See how Burlington's plastic straw rules rules stack up against other locations.
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