Iowa's auxiliary-container preemption blocks Des Moines from requiring straws-on-request or banning plastic straws; restaurants may voluntarily adopt paper or no-straw policies.
Iowa Code §455B.302 sweeps in straws as auxiliary containers along with bags and cups. Des Moines therefore cannot enact a Seattle-style straw ban or a California-style straws-on-request rule. Individual restaurants frequently adopt voluntary practices, such as default no-straw or paper straws, particularly downtown and in East Village establishments aligned with sustainability goals. The Des Moines Climate Action Plan supports voluntary single-use plastic reduction. ADA accessibility advocates note that any future statewide straw rule should preserve plastic straws on request for disability access; current preemption makes this moot for now.
No local violations because regulation is preempted; city cannot cite a restaurant for offering or not offering plastic straws.
Des Moines, IA
Iowa Code §455B.302 (2017) prohibits Iowa cities and counties from banning, taxing, or regulating plastic bags, foam containers, and similar auxiliary contai...
Des Moines, IA
Iowa Code §455B.302 also preempts local bans on polystyrene foam food containers; Des Moines cannot prohibit Styrofoam takeout boxes or cups regardless of en...
See how Des Moines's plastic straw rules rules stack up against other locations.
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