Single Use Plastics Ordinance

PLASTIC BAGS, PLASTIC UTENSILS, FOOD CONTAINERS, BALLOONS AND STRAWS 

23-2019 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING CHAPTER 150, “PACKAGING PRACTICES – UNIFORM,” OF THE CODE OF THE BOROUGH OF SEA BRIGHT, PROVIDING FOR REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO PLASTIC BAGS, PLASTIC UTENSILS, FOOD CONTAINERS, BALLOONS AND STRAWS” 

Single use ordinance enactment

We applaud the council’s move to enact ordinance 23-2019! It’s a good start, but only a small step in a needed global cultural change. We seem to accept the mantra that the recycling of other “multiple use” plastics makes their use okay. Lying to ourselves that these product containers are being recovered and recycled — with no real environmental impact. We sleep well, knowing that we have done the right thing, and that we are responsible consumers.

Only the “deniers” believe that the recycling of water bottles and other plastics is an environmentally harmless process. The goal should be to reduce all parts of the carbon equation — e.g., move to reusables and institute their use in a sound, low-impact fashion — i.e., fabrication, maintenance, transport and longevity methodologies, that create an actual beneficial environmental impact — not just a fashionable statement! We can create LOCAL change, yielding global results. Our behaviors and product demands, can drive change in East Asia (home to the world’s largest deniers)!

As for the borough’s own use of bottled water… It seems hypocritical that the Borough, arguably a business with an 8 million dollar-a-year budget, legislates banning single-use plastics — yet can’t provide a centralized bulk water dispenser for the council members and give them reusable containers to drink from. Bulk dispensers offer a far better human and environmental impact than individual bottles. In conjunction with reusable containers they have a lower overall carbon footprint. Or even better, is an on-site, tap water filtration system… Or even better than that, drink the tap water — I do. (Or is there something wrong with our water that I should know about)?

That said, you can’t legislate responsible behavior in people. That is something only their parents could have (and should have) done.

For what my thanks are worth, I would like to extend them to Cindy Zipf of Clean Ocean Action for her continuous lobbying efforts and support of our town and its share of the Atlantic coast and the world’s oceans.

Link to the ordinance

reading/reference

https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/news/the-new-plastics-economy-rethinking-the-future-of-plastics-infographics
https://www.earthday.org/fact-sheet-single-use-plastics/
https://www.nature.com/articles/ncomms15611#citeas

Long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT.

Thomas Paine
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Author: Murphy