[Adopted 3-12-2018 by Ord. No. 2018-03-12[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance stated that it shall take
effect upon passage, provided, however, that enforcement of violations
shall be stayed until 9-1-2018.
A.
The Town Council has the authority under Article 13 of the Rhode
Island Constitution and the Portsmouth Town Charter to regulate issues
of solid waste, litter and pollution as a local concern.
B.
The production, use and disposal of plastic checkout bags, which
are commonly not recycled, has been shown to have significant detrimental
impacts on the environment, including but not limited to contributing
to pollution of the terrestrial and coastal environment, clogging
stormwater drainage systems, and contributing to the injury and death
of terrestrial and marine life through ingestion and entanglement.
C.
The manufacture, transport and recycling of plastic checkout bags
requires substantial energy consumption and contributes to greenhouse
gases.
D.
Plastic checkout bags create a burden to solid waste collection and
recycling facilities.
E.
Prohibiting the use of plastic checkout bags is necessary to protect
the environment and the public health, safety, and welfare of all
residents and visitors.
The purpose of this article is to improve the environment in
and around the Town and the health, safety, and welfare of its residents
by reducing the number of plastic and paper bags being used, encouraging
the use and sale of reusable checkout bags and banning the use of
plastic bags for retail checkout of goods.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any commercial enterprise that provides carryout bags to
its customers, including sole proprietorships, joint ventures, partnerships,
corporations, or any other legal entity and includes all employees
of the business and any independent contractors associated with the
business. "Business establishment" does not include sales of goods
at yard sales, tag sales, other sales by residents at their homes,
and sales by nonprofit organizations.
A bag provided by a business establishment to a customer,
typically at the point of sale, for the purpose of transporting purchases.
Any thin plastic bag with a double opening (top and bottom)
to protect clothing or other items for transport.
Any thin plastic bag with a single opening used to:
Transport fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, small hardware items,
or other items selected by customers at the point of sale;
Contain or wrap fresh or frozen foods, meat, or fish, whether
prepackaged or not;
Contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or other items where
damage to a good or contamination of other goods placed together in
the same bag may be a problem; or
Contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods.
Any plastic carry-out bag that is provided by a business
establishment to a customer, typically at the point of sale, for the
purpose of transporting purchases. "Plastic carryout bag" does not
include plastic barrier bags or double-opening plastic bags, as defined
herein, or plastic bags measuring larger than 28 inches by 36 inches.
A paper bag that is fully recyclable overall and contains
a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content and contains no old
growth fiber. The bag should display the words "reusable" and "recyclable"
or the universal recycling logo on the outside of the bag.
A bag with handles that is specifically designed and manufactured
for multiple reuse and is made primarily of cloth or other nonwoven
textile or durable plastic with a minimum thickness of four mils.
Any straps must be stitched and not heat fused.
A.
No business establishment shall provide or make available any plastic carryout bag (either complementary or for a fee) for any sales transaction or other use to members of the public, that does not comply with the definition of a "reusable bag" under § 326-35 of this article.
B.
All business establishment that provide plastic barrier bags or double-opening
bags shall offer a recycling opportunity on site for the recycling
of any plastic bags or clean plastic bag film as defined by the Rhode
Island Resource Recovery Corporation RESTORE program.
This article does not apply to:
A.
Laundry dry-cleaning bags, door-hanger bags, newspaper bags, or packages
of multiple bags intended for use as garbage, pet waste, or yard waste;
B.
Bags provided by pharmacists or veterinarians to contain prescription
drugs or other medical necessities, provided that the bags are recyclable
within the state's recycling program; and
C.
Plastic barrier bags, double-opening plastic bags used by a consumer
inside a business establishment to:
(1)
Contain bulk items, such as produce, nuts, grains, candy, or small
hardware items;
(2)
Contain or wrap frozen foods, meat, or fish, whether or not prepackaged;
(3)
Contain or wrap flowers, potted plants or other items to prevent
moisture damage to other purchases;
(4)
Contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods; or
(5)
Bags used by a non-profit corporation or other hunger relief charity
to distribute food, grocery products, clothing, or other household
items.
This article shall be enforced by the Police Department, or
any other Town department designated by the Town Administrator. Any
business establishment who violates any of the provisions of this
article shall be subject to the following penalties:
A.
For a first offense, the business establishment charged with a violation
of this article shall be served with a warning letter by delivering
it to the business establishment personally, or by posting a copy
upon a conspicuous portion of the retail sales establishment and sending
a copy of the same by certified mail to the business establishment
to whom the notice is directed. The warning letter shall inform the
business establishment charged of the nature of the violation and
that it must be corrected within 14 days of the date of the letter,
and shall include a copy of this article.
B.
For a second offense, more than 14 days after service of a warning
letter, a fine of $150 shall be assessed and imposed. The business
establishment charged shall be given the opportunity to pay the fine
assessed by mail, which shall be indicated on the summons issued by
the charging officer. Should the alleged violator elect not to pay
the fine assessed by mail, the violation shall be heard and adjudicated
by the Municipal Court.
C.
For a third or subsequent offense, a fine of $300 shall be assessed,
and the violation shall be heard and adjudicated by the Municipal
Court.
D.
Each occurrence of a violation more than 14 days after service of
a warning letter, and each day that such violation continues, shall
constitute a separate violation and cited as such.
A.
The Town Council may grant a variance from the requirements of this
article only after determining that: 1) application of this article
would cause undue hardship based upon unique circumstances; or 2)
application of this article would deprive a person or business of
a legally protected right.
B.
The requested variance shall be submitted on the Town's prescribed
forms.
C.
Any variance granted under this section must be the minimum variance
necessary to address the hardship.
This article shall take effect upon passage, provided, however,
that enforcement shall be stayed until September 1, 2018.
