California restaurants will only provide plastic straws to customers upon request after Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday signed legislation thatA aims to cut down on pollution. The change covers full-service dining, but not takeout establishments like fast-food restaurants. It will take effect in 2019.A Plastic straws and stirrers are the sixth-most common item found at beach cleanup days, according to theA California Coastal Commission, with more than 835,000 picked up between 1988 and 2016.A Under the measure, businesses would receive a warning for their first two violations, then a $25 fine per day for each subsequent violation, up to $300 annually. Several California cities have already adopted similar ordinances, including Manhattan Beach, which in June banned plastic straws, stirrers and utensils completely.
