MALIBU, CA (KCAL/KCBS/CNN) - Plastic straws, forks, knives and spoons are going the way of the dinosaur at restaurants in Malibu, CA.
Its city council approved a ban on plastic utensils within city limits on Feb. 26. The council tentatively passed the ordinance on Feb. 12 and voted to approve it Monday night.
The rule kicks in on June 1, but Paradise Cove Beach Café is already getting rid of some of the items getting axed--including straws and stirrers.
Owner Bob Morris said he's 100 percent on board with the new ban.
"I'm an old surfer. Yes, let's get rid of them," he said.
But Country Kitchen Manager Joel Ruiz is less enthusiastic about the new rule that also bans plastic forks, knives and spoons.
"It's going to be expensive," Ruiz said.
He said the casual dining spot will likely have to pass on some of the costs to customers to afford so-called eco-friendly options, such as wooden utensils.
"We have to raise the prices. We don't want to do that, but we have to," Ruiz said.
Arthur Senzy, who dined at Paradise Cove, said he's willing to pitch in to ditch plastic.
"if they raise their prices to accommodate, that's fine by me," he said.
The new rule approved by the city council Monday night also requires restaurants only offer these plastic alternatives upon request.
Rule breakers could get dinged with fines starting at $100.
The city does have a plan to help restaurants out. They're giving each restaurant several hundred paper straws that say, "Keep it clean, Malibu."
Even so, Morris may pass on those paper straws. He came up with his own solution.
"I woke up and I said, “Spaghetti, man. Pasta, pasta with a hole. It's available, it's cheap," Morris said. "We put it in the drink and let it sit there for four hours. All the different types of drinks."
And he pitched his idea to customers.
Senzy tried it out, too.
"I applaud the owner for making an attempt to solve the problem," Senzy said.
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