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Committee advances expanded single-use plastics ordinance to full council after divided vote
Summary
Beaufort Countys Natural Resources Committee voted 5-2 to send proposed amendments to the countys 2018 plastic bag ordinance to full council for first reading. The draft would expand bag prohibitions, ban expanded polystyrene food serviceware and make cutlery and straws "by request only," with an eight-month transition period.
Beaufort Countys Natural Resources Committee voted to forward a set of proposed updates to the countys 2018 plastic bag ordinance to county council for first reading after a 5-2 voice vote on Feb. 3, 2026.
The amendments would expand the existing ban to cover both thin and thick single-use plastic carryout bags, add expanded polystyrene (commonly called Styrofoam) disposable food-service ware to the restricted list and require plastic cutlery and single-use straws to be provided only upon customer request. Staff said the package includes an eight-month transition period after the last municipality adopts similar language.
"This revised ordinance will prohibit thick and thin plastic bags, eliminate…
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