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Council advances ordinance to require containment of construction dust and microplastics
Summary
On first reading Council approved Ordinance 2026-03 to create Chapter 33 'Construction Dust Control,' requiring contractors to use vacuum attachments, place tarps, clean daily, prevent debris from entering storm drains and install specified filters where sites drain to public inlets. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 per day.
The Washington Borough Council approved Ordinance 2026-03 on first reading Feb. 17, 2026, introducing Chapter 33, "Construction Dust Control," which sets minimum on-site practices for cutting and drilling plastics and composite materials. The ordinance requires vacuum attachments on saws when practical, use of tarps under tools, daily cleanup of plastic and wood contaminants, confined-space cutting when feasible, and specific stormwater inlet filtering using polypropylene geotextile conforming to ASTM Test D4491, D4751, and D4355 where sites drain to public inlets.
The ordinance also contains an enforcement section: "Any person who violates, fails, or refuses to comply with this Chapter... shall, upon conviction in the Municipal Court be punished for each offense by a fine not to exceed $1,000. Every such violation... each day that the same shall continue shall be deemed a separate violation." Contractors are responsible for informing employees and subcontractors of the requirements. Council approved first reading by roll call (motion by Deputy Mayor Musick; second by Councilwoman Gorshkov) with an Aye vote of 7–0; public hearing and adoption are scheduled for March 17, 2026.
Council did not substantially amend the ordinance language at the Feb. 17 meeting; the text was read into the record and the clerk was directed to schedule the public hearing and adoption date for March.
