Why This Matters
Galveston County, home to a vibrant coastal community and a major tourist destination, is under threat from single-use plastic pollution. Our beaches, bay, marine life, and even our health are being impacted yet this is preventable.

We are calling for a local ordinance to ban single use plastics in Galveston County, Texas. Let’s take bold action to protect our home, sea life, and community from this growing environmental and public health crisis.

 
The Problem: A Plastic Crisis on Our Coast
Single-use plastics like bags, bottles, straws, and wrappers are used for mere minutes but pollute our environment for hundreds of years. Galveston’s shoreline and nearby Gulf waters are suffering:

A study from the Environmental Institute of Houston found microplastics prevalent in tributaries to Galveston Bay, highlighting widespread pollution even before plastic reaches open water (USGS.gov).
Plastic waste litters Galveston beaches after major weekends like Memorial Day, overwhelming cleanup crews and damaging the city’s reputation as a beautiful coastal getaway (KHOU 11 News).
Wildlife suffers too: sea turtles, fish, and birds mistake plastic for food, leading to internal injuries and death. Sea turtles often ingest plastic bags, confusing them with jellyfish (SeaTurtles.org).
Plastics also enter our food chain. Research has found microplastics in seafood, salt, honey and in human stool. The long-term effects on human health are still being studied but are cause for deep concern (Rochman et al., 2015).
 
Why a Ban is Feasible in Galveston
We’re not asking for the impossible other cities have done it, and Galveston is ready too.

Here’s why:

The Galveston City Council can pass ordinances to regulate waste and promote public health.
The community cares. Residents and visitors are alarmed by growing beach pollution.
People are capable. Most people drive and can bring reusable bags. Many stores already sell eco friendly alternatives.
Big stores have done it before. National chains are prepared to comply with local regulations this isn’t new for them.
 
Our Vision: A Cleaner, Healthier Galveston
By banning single-use plastics in Galveston County, we can:

Preserve our beaches for future generations
Protect the Gulf of America's marine life from unnecessary suffering
Reduce the presence of plastics in our food and water
Attract more eco-conscious tourists and enhance our economy
Inspire other Texas coastal cities to follow suit
 
What We’re Asking the City Council to Do
Pass a local ban on single-use plastics including bags, straws, and cutlery in stores and restaurants.
Promote and incentivize alternatives like biodegradable packaging and reusable containers.
Educate the public through campaigns about how plastic affects our health and environment.
 
What YOU Can Do Now
Sign this petition to show your support for banning single-use plastics in Galveston County.
Share it on social media, tag friends, post in Galveston groups, and let’s make it go viral.
Start today: Bring your own reusable bag. Say no to plastic straws. Support eco-friendly businesses.
Talk about it: Mention it at UTMB, in local schools, churches, workplaces, and neighborhood groups.

 
Sources:
Environmental Institute of Houston. (n.d.). Microplastics in Tributaries to Galveston Bay. USGS
Sea Turtle Restoration Project. (n.d.). Studying the Impact of Microplastics in the Gulf. SeaTurtles.org
Rochman, C. M., et al. (2015). Microplastics in Seafood and the Implications for Human Health. Environmental Health Perspectives, NIH
KHOU 11 News. (2023). Galveston beaches trashed after Memorial Day weekend [khou.com]