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Survey finds strong public support to curb plastic bags and styrofoam; staff to draft ordinance
Summary
County staff reported more than 6,000 resident responses and 138 business responses to a single‑use plastics survey; results show strong interest in restricting plastic bags and styrofoam clamshells and support for 'by request' rules on straws/utensils. Staff will finalize results and draft an ordinance for council and municipalities.
Rob (Presenter) told the committee that staff conducted two parallel surveys (residents and businesses) from February through early April and that the resident survey garnered over 6,000 responses while the business survey returned 138 responses. "We got over 6,000 consumer responses and then a 138 business responses," Rob said, and described the survey design that separated resident and business views to better understand differing interests.
Staff said results show comparatively strong support for restricting plastic bags and styrofoam clamshell containers, while items such as straws and utensils received greater support for conditional measures (for example, providing straws or utensils "by request"). Staff described Charleston's approach — public engagement, trial/grace periods and business support grants — as a model and said they will finalize the data and prepare a draft ordinance to share with council and the municipalities.
