Ban Butts from Our Beaches, Melbourne Beach

Victory! On Wednesday, June 19th the Miami Beach City Commission passed an ordinance banning cigarette smoking and vaping in its parks and beaches. 

In June of 2022, 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 (the number one item found in cleanups) from entering waterways and harming marine life.

Under the 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 Space Coast Chapter worked with Tobacco Free Brevard to start the conversation with Melbourne Beach town staff and officials to introduce the ordinance and testified in support of the ordinance at a subsequent reading during a town commission meeting. The ordinance passed unanimously at the June 19, 2024 town commission meeting. 

The Space Coast Chapter looks forward to picking up fewer cigarette butts from Melbourne Beach and keeping this toxic plastic litter off local beaches!