"I get we want to do this and it's important, but we also need to know what the cost of doing this, is," said Belanger, who noted there will also be a cost to installing more water fountains. Select Board member Nancy Belanger said developing a "source list" of alternative products to use will be important. Murphy said the language in the ordinance is "intentionally vague" to allow the committee time to work with Parks and Rec in finding alternative products. The income, officials said, helps support the pool. Town Manager Russ Dean said the Parks and Recreation concession stand sold 1,500 plastic water bottles and 800 bottles of Gatorade last year. 21 meeting regarding how it will impact Parks and Recreation, the cost, and how it will be enforced. However, they did express a few concerns at their Nov. Select Board members said they were supportive of the ordinance. Select Board supports ordinance to ban single-use disposable plastics "Some solutions that have been discussed and that we are starting to explore are a partnership with a local brewing company to offer canned water … or seeking price points for reusable water bottles," Murphy told the Select Board. The committee is also seeking replacement sources for water bottles, including installing a water fountain at Swasey Parkway. "They are now working on a source list for product alternatives that they will make available.”Īffordable high-speed internet: Exeter High grad behind startup offering affordable high-speed internet to Hampton Beach "The Sustainability Committee is highly motivated and interested and being a support entity to help individuals transfer through this process," Murphy said. Murphy said the committee is working with Parks and Rec to help them develop a transition plan away from single-use plastics which they use in the concession stand. Holidays on the Seacoast: Our list of parades, Santa breakfasts, tree festivals and moreĮmergency responders and human service nonprofits like Meals on Wheels - which relies heavily on single-use plastics - will be exempt from the ordinance.Īlso exempt is prohibited single-use containers brought by staff and customers themselves, and for now, the town's Parks and Recreation Department. The proposed ordinance carves out exemptions for single-use compostable food service products, packaging required for food safety reasons (such as wrapping around meats, seafood, lettuce or other perishable products) and products where alternatives do not exist. As a result of those surveys, she said the committee did make modifications to the ordinance. The committee surveyed the two groups who will be impacted the most under the ordinance - town staff and those seeking permits for events. Kristen Murphy, conservation and sustainability planner for the town, said the committee has been working on the ordinance for a year and a half. Public safety, human service nonprofits exempt from ordinance The ordinance allows town departments and vendors to distribute their remaining inventory for 9 months. A second infraction could result in the denial of a future permit for an event, according to the proposed ordinance. Instead, if the town determines a violation took place it will issue a written warning. The proposed ordinance does not include fines for violations. New partnership: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Seacoast School of Technology boost trades training: Here's how Under the ordinance, no person "shall distribute a prohibited single-use disposable item at any town facility, town property, town-managed or sponsored event, or activity authorized through special permits under the authority of the town of Exeter Select Board."īanned items include single-use plastic bags, plastic water bottles, plastic food service products and polystyrene containers such as Styrofoam cups. "We need to do something, and this ordinance will be a small step for Exeter to step up as a community leader and start eliminating plastic in the first place and stop contributing to this permanent waste," Sustainability Committee member Stacey Rogers told the Select Board.Įxeter area schools: Esther Asbell named next superintendent of SAU 16 What is banned under the ordinance? However, members of the committee call it a first step in addressing the plastic pollution in the environment, which is killing more than 100 million marine animals each year.
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