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Keep Beaufort County Beautiful members press for countywide ban on thin plastic bags and Styrofoam
Summary
At its April 9 meeting, Keep Beaufort County Beautiful reviewed outreach and implementation steps for a proposed county ordinance that would ban thin single‑use plastic bags and Styrofoam takeout containers; board members said the ordinance has passed a first reading in Bluffton and is headed to county council, with outreach contingent on council approval on June 8.
Keep Beaufort County Beautiful members on April 9 discussed next steps for a proposed county ordinance that would prohibit thin single‑use plastic bags and Styrofoam food containers for takeout.
Joe Passamont, Beaufort County council member and liaison to the committee, said the ordinance is now through an initial step in some municipalities and is moving through the county process: “It’s gonna be 3 readings in a public hearing. We’re going to get this done,” he said. The board set June 8 as the target date for final Beaufort County Council approval and noted the group will not begin public communications until after the council acts.
Board members stressed outreach and alternatives for local businesses. Committee members said large suppliers such as US Foods and Sysco are working on alternatives for packaging and that the county should help smaller, locally owned restaurants with the transition. Pam Floyd and other members urged targeted outreach to mom‑and‑pop establishments, not just national chains.
Chris Campbell summarized the ordinance’s current content as discussed by the group: “All it requires is you cannot use thin plastic bags and you cannot use styrofoam anymore,” he said, noting the focus is on single‑use items rather than all plastic.
Members acknowledged remaining questions and local dissent: the discussion named three council members who were not yet fully supportive and said staff will continue one‑on‑one outreach to address concerns about business impacts. The board also discussed coordinating passage regionally, briefing neighboring Lowcountry jurisdictions after county approval.
The board assigned communications and outreach responsibilities to staff should the council approve the ordinance; until then, the group said it will prepare educational materials and school outreach planned to follow formal county action.
Next steps: the ordinance will continue through the county council’s reading schedule, with Keep Beaufort County Beautiful preparing education and volunteer outreach to support implementation if the council approves the measure on or after June 8.
