Outer Banks Plastic Bag Ban Extends to All Businesses

Posted on July 8, 2010

A limited ban on plastic bags (prohibiting major retailers from distributing lightweight plastic bags) began on the Outer Banks in the fall of 2009, and beginning in the fall of 2010, the ban is being extended to include all businesses in Currituck, Dare, and Hdye Counties. OBX businesses will be required to use recycled paper bags or reusable cloth bags to consolidate customers’ purchases.

The new provision will ban plastic bags of any weight — flimsy or not — from being used by any business on the Outer Banks beginning on Oct. 1. The goal of the ban is to help protect the OBX water and wildlife and reduce litter along the Outer Banks.

Outer Banks Plastic Bag Ban Takes Effect September 1

Posted on August 27, 2009

Retailers and merchants on the Outer Banks are hustling to prepare for the plastic-bag ban that will go into effect on Sept 1. “We’ve been trying to get ready, but it’s going to be really tight,” said Wes Gutekunst, Kitty Hawk Kites marketing director. “As much as we support that it’s going to happen, it did happen quickly.”

The legislation banning plastic bags on the Outer Banks was signed into law in June. Retailers bigger than 5,000 square feet and a stores with more than five or more outlets in the state in North Carolina will have to comply with this law. Customers will be offered incentives for using their own bags.

Outer Banks Going Green?

Posted on May 5, 2009

Due to some environmental concerns the debate over plastic bags has risen on the Outer Banks. Sen. Marc Basnight, a Manteo Democrat and Senate leader, is proposing a radical idea to help keep the Outer Banks environment clean and free of pesky plastic bags; charge for them! The proposal is to charge 10 cents per plastic bag in an effort to promote the use of cloth, reusable bags.

It is estimated that consumers on the Outer Banks use about 2.5 million of these bags every year. While not every consumer using these bags is littering, it is evident that a tremendous amount of the bags end up polluting OBX beaches and national parks.

A North Carolina Senate bill introduced in March would ban plastic bags at major retail outlets, except for those used for meats, produce and fish. Minimizing the use of these bags is most certainly not a new concept. This bill is still being passed around the state senate and is awaiting approval. The state of Virginia enacted a similar bill about a month ago that placed a 5 cent fee on single use bags.