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Charleston Bans Plastic Bags, Straws And Foam Containers

The largest city in South Carolina has joined the growing movement toward outlawing single-use plastic products. 

Charleston has banned plastic bags, straws and foam containers, joining 10 other local coastal communities that have already enacted similar bans over the past three years. During the 11-2 vote by city council on Tuesday, a packed crowd expressed concerns regarding the amount of plastic and foam trash polluting waterways, posing a major threat to human health, the ecosystem and the region’s tourism industry, The Post and Courier reported. Over the past couple of years, city officials have conducted surveys to gauge support among businesses and residents, with results indicating 99% of respondents favored the ban.

Those opposed to the ordinance included representatives of Hartsville, SC-based plastic manufacturer Novolex. Councilmen Robert Mitchell and James Lewis voted against the ordinance, arguing that people in their district rely on plastic bags and questioning whether businesses who distribute alternative types of bags would give them to folks who couldn’t afford to buy them. According to lawmakers, businesses will have until Jan. 1, 2020, to discontinue their use of straws, plastic bags and foam containers. They have the option to extend the deadline another year if needed.

The ban is also a potential victory for the promotional products industry, providing an opportunity for savvy distributors to boost sales of logoed items, including branded tote bags, reusable straws and eco-friendly containers. It’s a hot market for sales reps to target as similar restrictions multiply throughout the US.

For instance, a Philadelphia suburb recently became the first municipality in Pennsylvania to strictly regulate plastic bags and straws. The Village of Pinecrest in Florida has also banned plastic straws. Monterey, CA went one step further by banning the use of plastic straws, utensils, stirrers and cup lids at all food establishments within the city. Chicago could be next as 55% of voters during the midterm elections said they are in favor of a plastic straw ban within the limits of the Windy City.

In what is believed to be the first legislation of its kind, Santa Cruz County approved a ban on small, single-use plastic bottles of personal care products in hotels, vacation rentals and other visitor accommodations, the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported. From now on, hotels need to stock rooms with larger bottles (more than 12 ounces), dispensers or another alternative. Similar policies are already underway at major hotel chains, such as Marriott and Hilton.

Meanwhile, city officials in Salem, OR, are easing citizens into a plastic shopping bag ban as customers are only allowed to use them to carry meats and vegetables.