Los Angeles restaurants would stop handing out plastic straws by 2021 under new plan

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A new plan to phase out plastic straws in the city of Los Angeles was announced Tuesday.

At City Hall, council members joined business and environmental leaders to announce the initiative that would require restaurants and other businesses to stop handing out single-use plastic straws by 2021.

"There will be more plastic by weight than fish in the ocean by 2050 if we don't change our behaviors across the planet," said Councilmember Mitch O' Farrell.

The L.A. City Council is also considering a measure that would make single-use plastic straws available only by request.

In a law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in September, California became the first state to bar full-service restaurants from automatically giving out single-use plastic straws. It takes effect next year. Restaurants that don't comply will get two warnings before being fined up to $300 per year. It will apply only to full-service restaurants, not fast food establishments.

California becomes first state to bar restaurants from automatically handing out plastic straws

People who want straws with their drinks at California restaurants will have to ask for them under a new state law.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.