Planner presents survey and recommends tighter limits on five single-use plastics

Juliana Masadek, environmental long-range planner, presented the results of two county surveys and a working-group review designed to inform proposed amendments to the county's 2018 plastic-bag ordinance.

Masadek told the meeting that landfill capacity is limited and said "our landfills' life is limited" (she described a current estimate of about six years at current disposal rates). She said Beaufort County disposed of just over 150,000 tons of municipal solid waste in fiscal year 2024 and that recycling accounted for roughly 12% of that tonnage.

Why it matters: Masadek argued the five single-use items under review—thick plastic bags, polystyrene cups, polystyrene takeout containers, plastic straws and plastic utensils—are not effectively recycled through municipal systems and contribute to litter, clogged stormwater infrastructure and risks to wildlife. She also summarized health-related findings presented to the group about microplastics appearing in food webs and human tissues; those health claims were reported by the presenter and not independently verified at the meeting.

Survey methods and results: The working group ran two surveys (one for residents, one for businesses) from Jan. 13 to April 3 with outreach via news stories, social media, email, door-to-door business postcards and library flyers. Masadek said the county received about 6,200 responses and that responses were distributed roughly one-third from Hilton Head Island and vicinity, one-third from Bluffton/Okeechobee areas, and just over one-third from northern Beaufort County.

Masadek said the survey asked whether respondents supported four regulatory options for each item (no action, by-request only, customer fee, or outright ban). "Nowhere do you see no action being the one that weighs out for any of these five items," she said, summarizing that bans were the most preferred regulatory option for thick plastic bags and polystyrene foodware, while by-request rules ranked higher for utensils and straws.

Evidence and examples: To illustrate effectiveness, Masadek cited a Red Bank, N.J., by-request case study that staff presented in which businesses reported about a 94% reduction in customers taking cutlery after a by-request rule on takeout orders; staff said that example resulted in an estimated 1.5 million fewer single-use plastic cutlery pieces among 16 restaurants in the first year.

Costs and business impact: The presentation included a comparative price slide indicating eco-friendly alternatives typically add only a few cents per item (examples shown on the slide included $0.05 for a traditional plastic clamshell and up to $0.08 for an alternative). Masadek acknowledged some local businesses report higher contract prices and said staff consulted national and local suppliers (including work with Marriott Hilton Head and Port Royal Sound Foundation) and will provide underlying sources on request.

Next steps and implementation: Masadek said staff will conduct a roadshow for municipal partners and stakeholders, reach out to neighboring Jasper County, then draft amendment language in 2026. She outlined implementation supports under consideration including a green business program, a pilot composting effort at selected convenience centers, grant resources to help businesses transition, and education and training for both businesses and residents.

Questions and enforcement: On enforcement, Masadek said prior enforcement relied on building- and code-enforcement processes with initial notice letters and community reporting; staff will research and propose clearer enforcement steps as they draft amendments. She also said exemptions for agriculture, fishing and some nonprofits were likely to remain part of the ordinance language, consistent with prior iterations.

What remains unresolved: The presenter summarized survey preferences and recommended next actions; no ordinance language was adopted and no formal vote occurred. Staff will return with draft amendment language after municipal outreach and further analysis.

Ending: Masadek closed by noting sources and linking the full survey report for review, then invited follow-up questions and feedback.