Monday evening was a battle between business competitiveness and protecting the environment. The Haverford Board of Commissioners voted on Monday evening to limit single-use plastic bags, straws, stirrers, and straws in the township.
Plastic straws are now only available on request. Single-use plastic beverage stirrers and plastic bags are also banned under the proposed Plastic Ban ordinance.
At the March 7 business meeting Judy Trombetta, Vice President, stated that the proposal was a result of a meeting with members of the environmental advisory panel.
Officials hope the proposal will encourage people using reusable bags to replace single-use bags that often get tangled up in trees and polluting nearby streams. A 10 cent per bag charge would be applied to paper bags.
Trombetta stated that the bill’s purpose is to address plastic waste issues. We have to do something about plastics flooding our waterways.
Trombetta pointed out that similar ordinances have been passed in multiple states and that local communities like West Chester and Narberth have taken steps to reduce single-use plastic bags.
Trombetta stated that officials didn’t want to ban plastic straws because some people with disabilities rely on them.
Trombetta said that they didn’t want to put too much burden on the business community, but felt it was possible to see its success elsewhere.
Conor Quinn, a commissioner who owns a local eatery, said that the proposal seemed like overreach by government and asked, “Where do we stop once this is started?”
Commissioner Steve D’Emilio noted that plastics have leached into the land and animals that we eat and now can be found in humans.
DEmilio said that if we do not do something, we will be in trouble.
Quinn inquired about flyers that are thrown on lawns and include coupons handouts and newspapers. He also mentioned that the state stores and post office are exempt from this exemption.
Commissioner Larry Holmes said that the ordinance’s exemptions are justified since newspaper or laundry bags are delivered to a doorstep. Convenience store purchases, on the other hand, are sometimes thrown out of car windows after they are removed from the bag.
Commissioner Kevin McCloskey said that they were doing something that was beneficial to the environment. Although it is not perfect, there will be some problems. But this is a good step in the right direction that is worth taking.
A number of residents spoke out on Monday night’s board meeting about the proposed ordinance. Melissa Romano stated that she has been recycling plastic bags for many years and that it was easy to get used to it. She also stated that single-use plastic bags are not sustainable because fossil fuels will run dry.
Romano stated that without policies, things won’t change.
Coopertown and Chestnutwold Elementary Schools Roots and Shoots students spoke in support. The petition was signed by 188 students who presented it to the Commissioners.
Two residents spoke out against the plan. One man asked about the data in the township and the impact on commercial businesses. He said that the ordinance was just opinions, and that there wasn’t enough data to support it. One speaker criticized the policy, stating that disabled people will not be able access straws at all as staff in restaurants may not be able.
Commissioner William Wechsler stated that many businesses complained to him that the ordinance would create an unfair burden on businesses in the Pilgrim gardens area. However, a business located across the street from Upper Darby Township would not have to be subject to the ordinances.
He said that he feels the problem should be addressed by either federal or state action
The ordinance was passed 7-2 with Quinn and Wechsler voting in favor. A second reading will be held in April.
The program would be in effect from Jan 2023.