Getting rid of plastic bags is not going to solve the major issues of the world today, but it’s going to make people more mindful of single-use materials.”

Dave McLaughlin, Clean Ocean Access

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PORTSMOUTH — A proposed ban on single-use plastic bans here will have to wait a little longer.

The Town Council Monday voted 6-1 to ask Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr. to work with an island environmental group and local business leaders in drafting an ordinance that would ban the single-use carryout bags in Portsmouth. The draft ordinance will come back to the council for a vote at a future date.

The nonprofit group Clean Ocean Access (COA) first asked the council to draft a similar ordinance in August 2016. COA renewed its plea Monday after Newport and Middletown voted earlier this year to implement a ban on single-use plastic bags starting Nov. 1. The Jamestown Town Council, meanwhile, voted to hold a public hearing on a draft ordinance next month.

Under the proposed ordinance, no business shall provide or make available any plastic carryout bag at the point of sale. All businesses providing plastic barrier bags or double-opening bags need to offer onsite recycling under the ordinance. 

The proposal also sets forth several exemptions for things such as laundry dry-cleaning bags, bags provided by pharmacists or veterinarians for prescription drugs and bags for small hardware items. The ordinance also suggests enforcement and penalties, although that would ultimately be up to the town. 

Dave McLaughlin, COA’s executive director, said the bags can cause great damage to the environment, particularly to ocean life. Banning them would be the first step in starting a larger conversation about being more eco-friendly, from using stainless steel straws to improving on water conservation, he said.

“Getting rid of plastic bags is not going to solve the major issues of the world today, but it’s going to make people more mindful of single-use materials,” he said.

Several people spoke in favor of the ban Monday. Chris Reeves, a freelance science writer who lives in Portsmouth, said plastic bags “are the poster trash for this movement” and pointed out there is no industry standard on biodegradable bags, which he labeled an “advertising gimmick.”

“The recovery rate for plastic bags is something like 3 percent,” said Mr. Reeves, adding that most of them end up in the landfill whether they’re recycled or not. He and another resident noted they didn’t even have plastic bags when they were growing up.

“The world is not going to start crashing down if we stop using this product,” he said.

Eva Touhey, a Portsmouth High School grad who’s now a program manager at COA, said she’s presented environmental education programs to every second-grader in Portsmouth. 

“At the end of the day they’re not the ones who can do anything about it,” said Ms. Touhey, who urged the council to help protect the future for those youngsters.

Hardship for businesses?

Several council members, however, said they needed assurances that the ban wouldn’t hurt local businesses, such as Clements' Marketplace. According to Council President Keith Hamilton, Clements’ store manager Tracy Anthony has expressed concerns that the ban would drive up food prices since it will cost more to produce paper bags. That, in turn, could steer customers away from Clements and into Fall River or other communities that don’t have the ban, he said.

“It’s happened in other towns,” said Mr. Hamilton.

Council member Elizabeth Pedro agreed. “I’m just concerned we’re going to make a hardship for businesses and not get where we want to be,” she said.

No one from Clements’ Marketplace attended Monday’s meeting.

Mr. McLaughlin said he’s met with Ms. Anthony and understood her concerns, but he hopes more people will start toting reusable bags.

“People aren’t really interested in using paper bags; they want to use reusable bags,” he said, adding that changing habits won’t come overnight. “It does take time to switch.”

Council member Paul Kesson, who cast the sole dissenting vote, said he didn’t believe the bag ordinance would decrease the amount of litter he sees around town.

“I don’t get as many plastic bags as I do plastic bottles,” Mr. Kesson said. “I don’t think an ordinance is going to fix that.”

Council member David Gleason said delaying action on the proposed ordinance is wise because it will allow the town to witness the impact of the bans in Newport and Middletown after they go into effect Nov. 1.