Newtown Township is moving closer toward a potential single-use plastic ban.
The proposed ordinance that the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors voted to advertise this month called for ending the distribution of single-use plastic bags, expanded polystyrene food service products, single-use plastic straws and single-use plastic utensils within the township.
The single-use plastic ban would get rid of plastic bags in every retailer in the municipality. That means if you shop at the ACME, they wouldn’t have plastic bags, but they may offer an alternative or you can use your own bags.
During a Newtown Township Board of Supervisors meeting earlier this month, Newtown Environmental Advisory Council Co-Chair Elaine McCarron gave a presentation pushing for a single-use plastic ban. She came up to the podium with a binder full of information.
The presentation was to persuade the supervisors, led by Chairman Dennis Fisher, to enact a single-use plastic ban.
McCarron told the supervisors of nearby towns and cities who have enacted this ban. They include Lancaster Township, Solebury Township, Springfield Township, and Upper Merion Township, among many others. She also said there are many more gearing up to enact this ban.
Every single store is now participating in these towns and it only took them approximately six months to make the change, per McCarron.
Newtown Township stores like Chipotle and Ace Hardware said they’d agree with a single-use plastic ban ordinance, McCarron stated.
She went on to mention the environmental toll plastic bags are causing and that plastic use, even for a municipality like Newtown, adds up.
Education is key for residents and businesses when it comes to a potential single-use plastic ban, according to McCarron.
The town would need to post the necessary signage in storefronts and other areas, she added.
Towards the end of the presentation, McCarron gave one final argument for supervisors: Newtown Township could become an example to teach stores and residents how to get a plastic ban done. Of course, training retail employees and helping consumers adapt is a relevant challenge. Newtown could become the standard for how to get this ban accomplished.
Credit: Chris English/NewtownPANow.com
After the presentation, some of the supervisors had questions.
Vice Chairman John Mack simply said the ban could cause undue hardship
Supervisor Elen Snyder, who was recently re-elected, intervened to answer and said the ban isn’t to punish people, but to get them to break their use of single use plastic. She also stated there’s an educational process to help get residents and businesses there and that it’s to help the environment.
Vice Chairman John Mack said it needs to be more clarified.
McCarron’s rebuttal was that she will see how other towns do it and get back to them.
Supervisor Philip Calabaro mentioned how this could be used to sabotage a business.
McCarron added that businesses would be given a warning before a violation is imposed. If, and when, the ban is in effect, it would have to be imposed for 90 days before any repercussions, giving local businesses a grace period to adapt.
The township’s code enforcement department would enforce the ban. Violations for businesses would include warnings and increase to a $50 fine, a $100, and a $200 fine.
McCarron stated that she hoped the banning of single-use plastics would spread across Bucks County, so businesses and consumers alike could go one town over and not have to adapt to a different town’s rules.
The supervisors are set to vote on the ordinance on December 6.
