NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The North Myrtle Beach City Council will meet Monday night to discuss the possibility of banning plastic bags on the beaches and near the waterway.
WBTW was at the most recent Coastal Alliance meeting, where city leaders from North Myrtle Beach, Horry County, and Myrtle Beach said they were going to discuss with their councils about the idea of banning plastic bags.
As North Myrtle Beach is set to discuss this Monday night, councilwoman Nicole Fontana said if the ban is going to be enforced, it shouldn’t be for the City of North Myrtle Beach alone.
“If we get neighboring and sister cities to do the same thing, and maybe the state as a whole, like California, I think we could actually get somewhere and make a statement.”
But she also said there are many factors that play into the idea of banning plastic bags on the beach, like how often this ban would be enforced. “If there is an emergency, and there is a problem with plastic bags on the beach, they’re going to go to the emergency first,” said Fontana.
We also talked to businesses on Ocean Blvd. about how this would affect them. One business owner said if the ban were to become active, they may have to reconsider what types of bags they’re giving customers. “I know it’s better for the environment,” said Tony Rawls with Bargain World. “But it would be more costly, and it would hurt a lot of small businesses in the town. We already work so much in the summer just to try to get by.”
The city council meeting is Monday night at 7 p.m. The council will meet at city hall, and the meeting is open to everyone for public input.