June 25, 2009

State Sen. Marc Basnight’s office has released details on Senate Bill 1018, which would ban plastic bags at certain retail stores on the Outer Banks.

The bill has been sent to Gov. Beverly Perdue, who has said through a spokesperson that she will sign it.

Basnight is a Manteo Democrat and president pro-tempore of the North Carolina State Senate.  The bill has been his project.

The legislation bans large retailers from providing single-use plastic bags on the Outer Banks.  It is an effort to rid North Carolina’s most environmentally-sensitive area of litter that is harmful to marine life, unsightly to the millions who visit this area for its natural beauty, and to promote the use of reusable and renewable resources.

The ban becomes effective on Sept. 1.

Here are details that are of interest to Outer Banks businesses, as well as islanders and visitors.

The legislation:


•    Applies only to retailers in the Outer Banks portions of Dare, Currituck, and Hyde Counties

•    Applies only to retailers with a 5,000 square foot space or larger

•    Applies only to retailers that have five or more stores in the state

•    Would not apply for distribution of prepared foods

•    Retailers may use boxes from their inventory to distribute goods.

•    Would not apply to plastic bags for meat and produce

•    Stores will offer one of the following incentives to customers who bring in their won reusable bags:

o    a cash refund or
o    a store coupon or credit for general store use or
o    a value or reward under the retailer's customer loyalty or rewards program for general store use.
o    The amount of the incentive shall be equal to or greater than the cost to the retailer of providing a recycled paper bag, multiplied by the number of reusable bags filled with the goods purchased by the customer

The retailers affected will post this sign:

"[county name] County discourages the use of single-use plastic and paper bags to protect our environment from excess litter and greenhouse gases.  We would appreciate our customers using reusable bags, but if you are not able to, a 100% recycled paper bag will be furnished for your use."

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