Gettysburg Borough Council Rejects Plastic Bag Initiative

At its Monday meeting, the Gettysburg Borough Council declined to move forward on a petition from local advocacy organization Gettysburg Rising to ban non-reusable plastic bags.

During the public comments section of the meeting, Gettysburg Rising members Matt Moon and Jenny Dumont clarified the organization’s plastic bag proposal and reported on local, state, national, and international moves limiting non-reusable plastic bags.

063019 1942 GettysburgB1

063019 1942 GettysburgB1

Dumont addresses the council

Dumont thanked the council for considering the resolution. She noted the request from Gettysburg Rising was not a “ban” but rather a “fee.” “These resolutions do work” and are “being adopted all over the globe,” she said.

Dumont also said the vast majority of the 700 Gettysburg residents polled by Gettysburg Rising supported action to curb the use of plastic bags and encouraged the council to consider a proposed resolution.

A representative from Kennie’s Market said they “do care about the environment,” but noted that paper bags would be much more expensive than plastic bags, costing them potentially over $100,000 per year. Kennie’s believes a ban would force customers to other stores outside of the borough and be difficult for low-income and fixed-income families. “We don’t want to be penalized for being in the borough,” he said. He also said the plastic bags that are used are “made from recyclable materials.”

The council later spent about 20 minutes fully discussing the issue of non-recyclable plastic bags and the petition from Gettysburg Rising.

Naugle said she had talked to Lee Zimmerman from the borough waste collection company Waste Connection who suggested that users tie bags in a knot before throwing them in the trash.

President Naugle reminded the council that a ban would require a new ordinance, and suggested that alternatives would be a resolution with voluntary compliance or waiting for the state to take action.

Councilmember Patti Lawson said she was “interested in seeing what would happen at the state level.”

Naugle said the “impact” would be greater if it came from the state.

Council member Wesley Heiser said he was “not interested” in continuing with an ordinance “for a whole variety of reasons,” including because he wasn’t sure it would be effective.

Councilman Schindel and others spoke in support of writing an official letter to the county or the state asking them to take up this issue. “The impact is a lot bigger when it’s statewide,” said Schindel.

“We’re specifically targeting specific businesses with this ban,” he said.

Strauss said “we need to bring more people into this conversation,” but expressed concern the council’s priorities would not allow them to spend time considering it.

Heiser agreed that other council tasks should take priority and that spending time on “patchwork legislation” would keep the council from meeting other obligations such as the “truck problem” and the revolving loan fund.

Lawson expressed her concern about damaging a small locally-owned grocery store.

Strauss suggested a proclamation from the mayor might “raise attention” to the issue.

Naugle said she was “on the resolution side” and “not ready for an ordinance.” She preferred to encourage businesses to work on their own.

Schindel said the borough’s recycling money might be used for recycling efforts, to “educate about recycling,” rather than putting the money into the general fund.

Naugle noted that a draft of the new solid waste proposal had been received and is available for public comment.

Lawson said she “appreciated Gettysburg Rising calling this to us,” and encouraged everyone to do the best they can.

Naugle said “it is making a difference; I’m remembering my bags more often.”

Council member John Lawver said he would “not support an ordinance” that would be “totally unenforceable.”

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Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.

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