Single-Use Plastics Ordinance Nearing A Vote In Newtown Township

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The Newtown Township Board of Supervisors is expected to vote at its Nov. 21 meeting to advertise a new ordinance that would ban certain single-use plastics in the township beginning in 2024.

If adopted, the ordinance would restrict restaurants and businesses in the township from using single-use carry out plastic bags and Styrofoam food containers except when required for food safety. It would also prohibited restaurants and businesses from providing single-use plastic straws and utensils except upon request by the customer.

"This is not to punish people. This is to slowly get them into the habit of breaking their use of single-use plastic," said Supervisor Elen Snyder. "We're going to allow exceptions and we're going to help our businesses find an alternative. This is about education. We're just trying to help the environment. Nobody is going to be prosecuted for not using the right thing."

If adopted by the board of supervisors, the ordinance would take effect 120 days following adoption of the new law. The effective date would be in April 2024.

The delayed implementation will give businesses time to use up their plastics inventory and give the township's Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) time to educate the general public and township businesses, according to Elaine McCarron, who chairs the township's EAC.

The proposed ordinance would require businesses to post signage informing the public of the upcoming change, according to McCarron.

For a fee, McCarron said the ordinance would allow retail establishments to provide customers with a reusable bag at the point of sale. Recyclable paper bags may also be provided by the business for a minimal charge of 10 cents, she said.

There will be exceptions, said McCarron. Plastic bag would be allowed to pack perishable items including fruits, vegetables, grains, candy, etc.

Newtown would be the latest municipality in Bucks County to pass an ordinance banning single use plastics. Last year, Doylestown Borough adopted a ban on single use plastic bags. Solebury also voted to ban single use plastic bags along with plastic straws and polystyrene food containers.

Statewide bans are already in place in New York, New Jersey and Delaware. A statewide ban has not been approved by the Pennsylvania legislature. The bans instead have been been concentrated on the municipal level as activists attempt to show the legislators there's support for such a measure.

“This is a bottom to top grassroots effort," said McCarron. "At this time we have 24 municipalities that have now passed a single use plastics ordinance and there's between 20 and 30 coming down the pike."

The Newtown Township EAC began working on a ban in 2018, but put the work on hold due to the pandemic. Earlier this year the EAC unveiled a draft ordinance and asked the five member board of supervisors to consider passage of the ordinance sometime this year.

The EAC proposed the ordinance as a way to:

• Curb plastic bag litter on the streets, in the parks, and in the trees.
• Protect local streams, rivers, waterways and other aquatic environments.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and solid waste generation.
• Promote the use of reusable, compostable, and recyclable materials within the township.
• And preserve the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic value of the township.

“This is transitional. We’re all learning from it. We don’t want anyone to get angry. We’re looking at the easiest things,” said McCarron. “We walk into a store and eat our sandwich. It’s in plastic and we throw it away. Where does that go? Minimum, 400 to 1,000 years for it to break down. And as it breaks down it’s breaking into toxic chemicals. And what they’ve found now is that it’s in our waterways and it's even in your blood. It’s pretty outrageous. But the plastics industry keeps putting out plastics. If we, as consumers, start changing our habits, hopefully corporate will follow.”

Many of the township's businesses are already on board, including ACME, Iron Hill Brewery, Chipotle, PetSmart, Ace Hardware, among others, said McCarron.

McCarron said the EAC is continuing to work closely with the township's business owners in finding the best solutions in meeting the ordinance requirements.

The EAC has also developed a single use plastics playbook, offering businesses tips for preparing their employees for the transition.