Single-Use Plastic Ban In Summit? Share Your Thoughts

SUMMIT, NJ - The City of Summit is pondering pushing out single-use plastics and want to hear from residents and business owners.

“These proposed restrictions on single-use plastics like other initiatives undertaken by the city need to be an inclusive process,” Summit Mayor Nora Radest. “Before ordinances are considered by Common Council, it is imperative that we gather community feedback. Please consider attending a workshop session on Oct. 7 or Oct. 17.”

The pair of public workshop meetings for the proposed ordinances restricting the use of single-use plastics on Monday, Oct. 7 and Thursday, Oct. 17. Two sessions will be conducted each day from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Monday, Oct. 7 meeting will be held in the Whitman Community Room at City Hall on 512 Springfield Ave. in Summit. The Thursday, Oct. 17 workshops will be held at the Summit Community Center on 100 Morris Ave. in Summit.

Representatives from interested businesses, property owners and residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

The single-use plastics restrictions would be a combination of three proposed ordinances for introduction at the Nov. 6 Common Council meeting with a public hearing and opportunity for comments on Nov. 18. The first ordinance would prohibit use of single-use plastic bags by businesses at the point of purchase. The second ordinance is a ban on polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam) food containers. The third ordinance would limit businesses to provide plastic straws only upon request by customers.

During the workshop sessions, city and elected officials will be present to answer questions and obtain input from the business and residential communities on the development of the ordinances.

The proposed ordinance limiting use of plastic bags allows exemptions for certain purposes including:

• Produce or product bags, whether plastic or not, in which loose or bulk items, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, candies, or small hardware items, are placed by a consumer to deliver such items to the point of sale or check out area of a retail establishment;
• Laundry or dry cleaning bags;
• Newspaper bags;
• Bags used to contain or wrap frozen foods, meat, or fish, whether packaged or not;
• Bags used to contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or other items where dampness may be an issue;
• Bags used to contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods; or
• Bags sold in packages containing multiple bags intended for use as food storage bags,
• garbage bags, yard waste bags, or pet waste bags.

Exemptions for the proposed ordinance limiting the distribution of plastic straws are as follows:

• Pre-packaged drinks sold or distributed by a Food Provider.
• Use by individuals with a disability or other impairment requiring use of plastic straw.
• Non-plastic alternatives to plastic beverage straws.
• For the proposed ordinance restricting use of polystyrene (commonly known as Styrofoam)
• Raw or Prepared Foods prepared or packaged outside the City of Summit are exempt from provisions of the ordinance.

However, vendors of food prepared or packaged outside of the City of Summit are encouraged to comply with the provisions of the ordinance.

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