Maricopa County imposes no straws-on-request rule, and ARS section 9-500.38 preempts any county ordinance restricting plastic straws. Restaurants may freely distribute single-use plastic straws at counters, drive-throughs, and self-service stations across the county.
Arizona's 2015 Cooler Heads Prevail Act, ARS section 9-500.38, defines auxiliary containers to include drinking straws and stirrers, blocking Maricopa County from adopting a straws-on-request rule, plastic-straw ban, or fee. Restaurants, fast-food outlets, coffee shops, and food trucks across the county may continue handing straws out automatically with drinks and may stock them at self-service caddies. The county has no parallel rule in its environmental code. Several private chains and county-owned venues have voluntarily switched to paper or compostable straws as part of sustainability programs, but the choice is non-binding. The state-shared revenue review under ARS section 41-194.01 polices any county overreach.
There is no private-business penalty for distributing plastic straws in Maricopa County. Littering straws on public property can be cited under county environmental code and city litter ordinances where applicable.
See how Mesa's plastic straw rules rules stack up against other locations.
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