News
Red Bank Tables Proposed Ban On Plastic Bags
By John Burton
RED BANK - Plastic bags can still be in use in the borough - at least for now.
The Borough Council at Monday's meeting voted to table the proposed ordinance that would have brought about a comprehensive ban on the commonly used polyurethane plastic shopping bags.
The ordinance, introduced on Aug. 11, and initially set for a public hearing and vote on final adoption on Monday, would have required businesses to discontinue using the widely used variety of bags in favor of those that are either recyclable or compostable.
Had the borough council voted and approved the ordinance, that restriction would have been effective as of Jan. 1. And it would have contained a penalty for those who violated the ban, fines starting at $100 for the first offense, to up to $500 for more than two violations within the same year.
The proposed ordinance, according to Councilman Michael R. DuPont, its strongest supporter, is modeled on the one enacted in San Francisco, California, last year, seen as one of the most far-reaching laws of its kind.
Since the San Francisco law went into effect, a number of states and cities in the country have either adopted similar regulations or have begun discussing it.
The borough's proposed prohibition has met with some resistance locally. Previously, with representatives of Foodtown, a Broad Street supermarket, expressing some reservations about the proposal. Two weeks ago, Nancy Adams, the executive director of RiverCenter, which oversees and advocates for the borough's business special improvement district, noted there were retail merchants who were concerned with the law's ramifications.
Councilwoman Mary-Grace Cangemi, who serves as the council's liaison for the environmental commission and worked with DuPont and Councilwoman Kathy Horgan on the ordinance, offered her reservations about the ordinance, asking two weeks ago for it to be held until some of the language was clarified. "There has been a lot of good discussion," by residents, business owners and other stakeholders, Mayor Pasquale Menna announced on Monday, as the council prepared to vote to table the ordinance.
Because the amended ordinance will contain substantial changes, it will have to be re-advertised as a public notice and reintroduced before coming to the council for a final vote, Menna said.
Afterwards DuPont said he is still a strong advocate for the prohibition, and noted the revised ordinance will be drafted to prevent the use of the bags. "I'm just trying to tighten it up a little bit."
"Basically, the whole push is to make the environment the issue," DuPont added. And to stress, he continued, "that green is good for business.'
Business representatives, including from Foodtown, appear to be more inclined to support the somewhat amended proposal, according to DuPont.
The ordinance did inspire one member of the public to offering his support. Andrew Mencinsky, a Sea Bright resident and president of the Surfers' Environmental Alliance, called the proposed ban, "A great step in the right direction."
