La Plata, MD – It needs to go to the public first but Charles County may become one of many jurisdictions nationwide to ban plastic drinking straws and drink stirrers in county restaurants.
On Tuesday, Sept. 18, the Charles County Commissioners introduced draft legislation for a plastic drinking straw ban. The draft currently outlines that all plastic straws and stirrers are to be eliminated from local restaurants by Jan.1, 2020. It additionally proposes a $250 civil fine for each violation that occurs.
Commissioners’ President Peter Murphy [D] started the conversation by reflecting back on requests received from J.C. Parks Elementary School students to proclaim a once a year “no-straw day” in both April 2017 and 2018. Murphy’s comments led Commissioner Ken Robinson [D – District 1] to motion for a public hearing, in hopes of learning more about the backlash this legislation could have in the community.
Commissioner Debra Davis [D – District 2] was in agreement of this being an appropriate follow-up to what the elementary school students started, but she wanted to hear more detailed comments from her community. “It is a great move toward protecting our environment,” Davis said. “However, I do think there are some other lessons we should be showing our students and that is a lesson in good governance and transparent government. I would like to see the business community and the environmental community. I would like to see this go through the community first.”
Davis went on to suggest creating a committee and even putting some of the students that came to them on the panel to teach them more about good governance. “When you put forth this legislation, the citizens are always left to respond rather than to help create. I believe that we would have a better bill if we could put together the stakeholders first.”
Following her remarks, Robinson jumped at the opportunity to explain how he felt a public hearing was a more viable option to develop the legislation. “I can think of no group that is more engaged in being at the bottom and moving to the top than elementary school students.”
Robinson continued to remind everyone that the ban is currently in its preliminary stages in other jurisdictions. Additionally, he cited how some major corporations have voluntarily moved away from using straws such as Disney and Starbucks.
“It’s about an education program and making people aware,” Robinson said. “Especially living in a coastal community such as ours, plastic straws do a number on the environment, especially in oceans and rivers.”
Robinson’s motion to hold the public hearing was eventually carried on a 3-to-2 vote, with Davis and Commissioner Bobby Rucci [D-District 4] opposed.
The public hearing has been tentatively set to take place on Oct. 16.
To comment, contact news@thebaynet.com