Beaufort County group outlines plastics-reduction ordinance and countywide rollout plan

Keep Beaufort County Beautiful members reviewed a drafted county ordinance that would ban single-use plastic bags at retailers and food-service locations and prohibit Styrofoam food-service containers, and discussed how the county will coordinate outreach and a phased rollout.

Jean Zepel, representing District 7, said the draft ordinance would bar "plastic bags at, retailers and food" and noted that "it'll ban Styrofoam for food service. You can't get a Styrofoam cup anymore," describing an eight-month transition period for businesses and a conditional countywide effective date tied to municipal action. She told the group the ordinance will move from committee to full council, include three readings and a public hearing,…