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Council advances broader single-use plastics ordinance to second reading after split vote
Summary
Beaufort County Council moved proposed amendments to its single-use plastics ordinance to second reading after staff presentations and debate on business impacts, exemptions, enforcement and unintended consequences. The roll-call vote to advance passed 6–5; council invited amendments ahead of the next reading.
Beaufort County staff presented proposed amendments to Chapter 38 (environment), expanding the county’s 2018 single-use plastic bag restrictions to include thick plastic grocery bags and certain expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam) disposable food-service ware, while making straws and disposable cutlery “by-request” rather than automatically provided.
Juliana Zadek, presenting the ad hoc working group’s two-year process, told the council the outreach included a public survey that produced more than 6,200 responses and municipal coordination; staff recommended an eight-month transition period once the last municipality adopts parallel language. The draft ordinance also lists exemptions (medical/emergency use, products packaged outside the county, certain agricultural uses and multi-material food packaging) and retains penalty language carried over from the 2018 ordinance.
During council debate members asked questions about enforcement, business costs and unintended consequences such as PFAS migration from some coated paper alternatives. Multiple council members suggested the county could lead by example by ensuring county operations comply; some members urged incentive-based approaches rather than criminal penalties. Business and nonprofit exemptions were discussed and at least one council member asked staff to consider removing the nonprofit exemption.
When the council called the question, the roll call produced a 6–5 vote to move the ordinance to second reading; members who opposed said they were concerned about government overreach, burdens on small businesses and unanswered cost impacts. Staff told council they will accept proposed amendments and return with revised language for second reading.
Key passages from staff presentations and public comment included the working-group finding that bans or ‘by-request’ rules can sharply reduce the number of items entering the waste stream and local case studies showing major reductions in cutlery and single-use ware when by-request rules were adopted.
