Credit: Christopher Vega / Unsplash.com
Supervisors invite the public to comment in coming meetings about a potential ordinance.
Plastic shopping bags, Styrofoam containers, and even plastic silverware may all soon be a thing of the past in Whitpain Township. The Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors met last week to discuss a future, possible ordinance that would reduce the use of single-use plastics in the community.
“The goal of this ordinance is to reduce the use of single-use plastics, curb litter, protect the environment, and waterways,” said Township Manager Eric Traub. “We’d do that through reducing the use single-use plastic bags, especially at retail locations, regulating Styrofoam containers.”
Additionally, the township would only allow vendors to offer plastic cutlery if they asked.
“Plastic utensils would then be provided upon request only,” said Traub.
The township manager said that the process may take some time, and the township is seeking ways to allow exceptions or timelines for adaptation.
“We are trying to be mindful and providing exceptions to things, such as a grocery store salad bar,” he said.
Traub said that earlier surveys of the community, the ordinance would require a “one-year phase in,” permitting time for all to adhere to the changes.
“It will take place the first of the month following the ordinance adoption,” said Traub. “This allows time for businesses and retailers to plan to make the transition. It also allows time for the township to communicate, and likely over-communicate, the changes, what they are, why they’re being proposed.”
Some may be permitted to file for an exemption from the ordinance, with up to a one-year additional break to adapt. The option would have to be approved by the board of supervisors, on a case-by-case basis.
Traub said the ordinance made every attempt to clarify the conditions of the terms. There is a minimum charge requirement for providing a paper bag at the point of sale, as well as signage necessities outlined in the ordinance.
“Escalating fines are included as an enforcement mechanism,” said the manager, who added that the township staff worked closely with the Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) to construct the ordinance’s language.
Sara Selverian, assistant secretary and township supervisor who serves as the board’s liaison to the EAC, said she thinks an ordinance like this “serves our township’s goals.”
“For me personally, I also believe that this ordinance is taking us in the right direction,” said Selverian. “As a society, I think we can all acknowledge the fact that we use a significant amount of plastic, just in general.”
Selverian noted that, while this Whitpain Township change won’t save the planet alone, it is a step toward meeting the environmental goals the supervisors have set for the community.
“Plastic bags, and what this ordinance covers, are really just one piece of all the plastics that we use, we understand that,” she said. “But change takes time, and change has to start somewhere.”
She said that the ordinance is a “really great start,” but also acknowledged that it may be an inconvenience to local residents and business owners. Selverian said that, as a personal goal for the year, she made her New Year’s Resolution to stop the use of plastic bags when shopping.
“It took me five or six times to even remember to bring my reusable bag,” she said. “So we all understand that something like this is going to have a significant transitional phase.”
She said the EAC especially took careful time to construct the entire ordinance proposal.
“There is no part of this draft ordinance that was haphazardly thrown together, because we have spent hours, and hours, and hours talking to experts in the industry, getting advice from our environmental advisory council, and also talking to neighboring townships who’ve already enacted something very similar,” said Selverian. “We tried to learn what worked, what didn’t work, and we built this draft ordinance taking all of those things into consideration.”
Surrounding communities, including Ambler, Upper Dublin, Whitemarsh, and Springfield have already enacted plastic ordinances, according to PennEnvironment. The organization says that, since 2018, 30 municipalities in Pennsylvania, covering over 2.4 million residents, have passed laws eliminating the use of one or more plastics. The nonprofit estimates that these ordinances have saved 907,225,020 plastic bags from use.
Whitpain Board of Supervisor Chairman Scott Badami asked Traub when the public would be permitted to add their comments or questions on the matter.
“It is wise for us to have multiple opportunities for public comment,” said the manager. “One of the things we could do would certainly, with the consent of the board, at our next meeting in August, we just put something on [the agenda], public comment on the draft ordinance.”
Traub added the topic should be presented again for public comment at the September work session of the board, as well.
“We can see where we are at that point,” said Traub, noting the two precise dates that will allow the community to weigh in on the ordinance. Once the board feels they have allowed for enough time they will take action, but Traub said providing opportunities will be key.
At this time, the board authorized the township manager to advertise the ordinance, allowing it to be a matter for discussing in the coming weeks.
The Whitpain Township Board of Supervisors’ next meeting will be on Tuesday, Aug. 20 at 6 p.m. The board’s work session following that is slated for Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 6 p.m.
All meetings of the supervisors are held at the Whitpain Township Administration Building, 960 Wentz Road, in Blue Bell. To reach the supervisors by email, contact supervisors@whitpaintownship.org. Any persons with a disability that would like to attend meetings can reach out to David M. Camarda at 610-277-2400.
To preview the potential ordinance, visit https://www.whitpaintownship.org/DocumentCenter/View/4510/No-416-DRAFT-Single-Use-Plastics-Ordinance.
