Plastic Bag Ban Considered In Darien, Public Hearing Set

DARIEN, CT — Darien residents are invited to voice their opinion on a proposed plastic bag ban during a public hearing set for Wednesday, Feb. 6. This effort has been spearheaded by BYO Darien, a volunteer group of Darien residents who have met with various Representative Town Meeting committees.

According to BYO Co-Founder Juliet Cain, the purpose of the proposal is to reduce bag waste by encouraging people to bring their own reusable bag. (To sign up for Darien breaking news alerts and more, click here.)

"This is not a novel concept," Cain said in an email. "It is normal over most of Europe, for example, and elsewhere around the world."

Under the proposed ordinance, plastic shopping bags less than 12 mils thick and non-recycled paper shopping bags would be phased out over a six-month period. A "mil" is one-thousandth of an inch.

"We are also proposing that retailers be required to charge a 10 cent fee for each recycled paper bag," Cain said, "in order to remind people to bring their own reusable bags when shopping and to help defray costs to business."

Nearby communities, such as Norwalk, Westport and Stamford have passed similar ordinances banning the use of certain types of plastic bags.

According to Cain, plastic bags are not accepted into single stream recycling in Darien and are instead burned in an incinerator in Bridgeport.

"By eliminating plastic and paper bags we help save energy and pollution," Cain said. "Furthermore, plastic washes up daily on our town beaches and finds its way into Gorham’s pond and other waterways in town. By reducing bag waste, we will also help improve our environment."

Frank Kemp, who chairs the Town Government Structure & Administration Committee, said BYO Darien brought the proposal to the Board of Selectmen months ago, who then referred it to the RTM.

The RTM Rules Committee then designated the Public Works, Public Health & Safety and Town Government Structure & Administration Committees to consider it.

"Following the public hearing, a draft ordinance will be prepared for comment," Kemp said. "Then it is hoped that this draft ordinance, which must be reviewed by town council, will then be available for the March 18 meeting of the RTM."

Kemp said that date is "ambitious," however it is also "reasonable."

The hearing is set to take place in the Town Hall auditorium at 8 p.m. Check the BYO Darien website for further information.

Photo credit: RJ Scofield