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Keep Beaufort County Beautiful outlines outreach plan for new plastic-bag ordinance
Summary
The board reviewed branded handouts, window stickers and farmers-market outreach to support a recently passed plastic-bag reduction ordinance, emphasizing positive messaging and an eight-month transition for businesses; final artwork and distribution plans will return to the board in August for a vote.
Keep Beaufort County Beautiful on June 11 reviewed a communications and outreach plan to accompany Beaufort County’s newly passed plastic-bag reduction ordinance. The board previewed a two-sided handout, window decals for participating businesses and plans to staff tables at farmers markets to distribute reusable bags and educational materials.
The board’s chair said the ordinance “is just about no more plastic bags,” and that the group will focus most of its early effort on bags rather than a broader set of single-use items. The chair told members the communications approach should be positive: “We want to stay very positive in the messaging…everything happy and the future and looking forward,” and noted an eight-month transition period for businesses to adjust.
Members discussed specific outreach tactics, including 4x4 window stickers to display participating restaurants or retailers, 4x4 handout cards for distribution at events, and a possible table presence at stores such as Publix and Walmart. The chair said staff will circulate a draft handout and asked members to submit comments ahead of the August meeting, when the board plans to vote on final artwork and production quantities.
Board members urged coordination with retail managers to avoid conflicts with store-branded carryout bags. One member recommended negotiating placement and timing to avoid taking the place of store sales; another suggested using a table or branded booth if stores limit handouts at entrances.
The outreach work will be led by the board’s communications volunteers and county staff; the board also discussed leveraging community groups for distribution and using an existing county landing page or a repurposed county site for information and public contacts. The board plans to finalize materials and vote on any production at its August meeting.
