Charleston, South Carolina – Charleston County is proposing modifying the Single-Use Plastic Bag Ordinance to clarify what constitutes a “reusable carryout bag” and to prohibit the use of thick plastic bags.
“I completely endorse it. We evaluate water quality at four separate places, and we find a lot of microplastics. We are monitoring for that, so reusable bags are very important, and people don’t notice it in the water, but it is there, so it’s crucial to reuse what we have,” said Marni Friedman, Director of Conservation at the Sustainability Institute.
The proposed reform intends not just to lessen the negative environmental impacts of plastic pollution, but also to create consistency with localities such as the City of Charleston, Folly Beach, and James Island, who have already altered their rules.
The legislation defines a “reusable carryout bag” as one that is particularly designed and produced to be reused several times.
The requirements from the draft ordinance are shown below, along with their revisions.
The bag must: A) clearly state its ability to be reused and recycled; B) have a stitched handle (except for carryout bags made of recyclable paper with a height of less than 14 inches and width of less than 8 inches); and C) be made of one of the following materials.
Cloth, canvas, or other machine-washable fabric, or other durable materials, whether woven or non-woven, that can be washed and disinfected: or
A recyclable plastic having a minimum thickness of 4 milligrams; or
Recyclable paper has a minimum lifetime of 125 uses, which, for purposes of this section, means the capacity to carry a minimum of 22 pounds 125 times over a distance of at least 175 feet.
The reusable carryout bags can be made of cloth, canvas, or other machine-washable fabrics, as well as other long-lasting materials that can be washed and disinfected. The proposed rule change states that recyclable paper shall have a minimum lifetime of 125 uses.
Click here to view the whole ordinance, including highlighted changes. You can also access it on the Charleston County website under Environmental Management Committee Agendas.
“I really hope people understand that just because it’s heavy plastic doesn’t guarantee they’ll reuse it. Just because it’s plastic, some individuals may reuse bags that aren’t made of tough plastic, so removing plastic entirely helps us move away from that and do better for the environment,” Friedman explained.
The Charleston County Environmental Management Committee may take action at its meeting on Thursday.
