This week, the City of Newport’s planning board unanimously approved a city ordinance that bans the use of single-use plastic bags in all three communities on Aquidneck Island! Clean Ocean Access Executive Director, Dave McLaughlin, presented the draft ordinance and answered questions from planning board members on Monday night, before the vote took place. Dave McLaughlin initiated the drive to ban the bag and was the main author on the ordinance.
The purpose of the ordinance is to improve the environment and reduce the amount of plastic in surrounding waterways. The ordinance encourages everyone to bring reusable bags to carry out items from stores and restaurants. The ordinance states, “The bag must be made from washable cloth, other durable woven or non-woven fabric, or durable plastic film that is recyclable plastic with a minimum thickness of four mils.”
The goal among supporters of the plastic bag ban is to have city and town ordinances in place in all three Aquidneck Island communities by Earth Day, April 22, 2017.