Most - but not all - Seattle restaurants ready for impending plastic straw & utensil ban

SEATTLE (KOMO)-- Seattle is just days away from becoming the first major city to implement a new plastic straw and utensil ban.

On Sunday, hundreds of restaurants in the Emerald City have to ditch the plastic forks, spoons, knives and straws for something compostable.

Big Food, Skillet, and Subway are some of the restaurants already making compostable utensils and straws available for customers. But the Bubble Tea Shop isn’t sure what it's going to do come Sunday. They haven’t found the right-size compostable straw for the specialty drink.

Across the street from Seattle Center, Grecian Corner, a small mom and pop restaurant that’s been open for 13 years, says the cost for compostables is going to hurt. They said it’s 18 cents per compostable straw. So, they’re choosing to cut back, and not hand out utensils for to-go orders.

"Not right now. Not until they become more affordable," said Tina Velaoras. "It’ll have to be a lot of explaining to customers."

Across the sidewalk at Sport Restaurant, they were confident they were going to meet the deadline.

"We should be ready by the end of the week -- we ordered compostable straws," said Sport Restaurant and Bar manager Nicholas Robinson. "Lime green straws for the Hawks."

The city of Seattle says there’s a grace period as it educates all the restaurants. But after the grace period expires, there is a $250 fine for those who don't comply.

The city also said the law does allow businesses to provide plastic bendable straws to disabled persons who may require them.

Malibu and Miami Beach have similar bans.