A second reading will take place in April. The ordinance passed on a 7-2 vote with Quinn and Wechsler voting against. ![]() He said he feels state or federal action needs to handle the problem Another speaker spoke against the policy objected, saying that disability groups will not have ready access to straws as restaurant staff may not be able to have access to them.Ĭommissioner William Wechsler said a number of businesses have complained to him that the ordinance would be an unfair burden for businesses in the Pilgrim Gardens area where a business across the street in Upper Darby Township would not be burdened with the ordinances. He said the ordinance was just opinions without data to support the plan. One man asked what the data is in the township and how many commercial businesses will be affected. Two residents spoke in opposition to the plan. Students presented the commissioners with a petition with 188 signatures in support of the ordinance. “Without policies in place, things will not change,” Romano said.Ī number of students from Coopertown and Chestnutwold elementary schools’ “Roots and Shoots” program spoke in support of the program. She also said single-use plastics are not sustainable as fossil fuels will run out, maybe not today but eventually and asked, “How many wars do we need to fight over oil and gas?” Melissa Romano said she has been reusing plastic bags for years and after getting used to the habit it was easy. “It’s not perfect and there is going to be problems along the way but this is a step in the right direction and its one that is worthwhile to take.”Īt Monday evening’s meeting a number of residents spoke on the proposed ordinance. “We’re doing something that is beneficial to the environment,” said Commissioner Kevin McCloskey. He said also Narberth has an exemption for state stores and the post office.Ĭommissioner Larry Holmes said the exemptions in the ordinance are justified as newspaper or laundry bags come to a doorstep whereas convenience store purchases are sometimes thrown out car windows after the item is taken out of the bag. Quinn asked about fliers thrown on lawns with free coupon handouts as well as newspapers and dry cleaning bags which are exempted under the proposed ordinance. “If we don’t do something, we’re in trouble,” D’Emilio said. Trombetta noted that multiple states have passed similar ordinances and local communities such as Narberth and West Chester have also taken steps to limit the use of single-use plastic bags.Ĭommissioner Conor Quinn, who owns a local restaurant, said the proposal seemed like government overreach and asked, “Where do we stop once we start this?”Ĭommissioner Steve D’Emilio noted that plastics have leached into the land and animals that we eat and now can be found in humans. “Plastics are just flooding our waterways and we have to do something to address this.” “Ultimately the purpose of this bill is to address the issues around plastic waste,” Trombetta said. ![]() Paper bags would require a 10 cent charge per bag. Officials hope the proposal will incentivize the idea that people should use reusable bags instead of single-use bags which often end up tangled in trees and polluting area streams. The proposed Plastic Ban ordinance makes plastic straws available only by request and single-use plastic beverage stirrers and plastic bags banned.Īt the March 7 business meeting, board Vice President Judy Trombetta said the proposal came from a meeting with the environmental advisory committee. ![]() Business competitiveness or protecting the environment? That is the conflict the Haverford Board of Commissioners addressed Monday evening as they voted on a resolution to limit the use of singl- use plastic bags, straws and stirrers in the township.
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