A proposed ban of single-use plastics did not pass Lunenburg Town Council last night.
The bylaw composed for council by Plastic Free Lunenburg will instead be sent to governance committee where staff will also be asked to complete a report.
The group’s Teresa Quilty doesn’t feel town staff really bought-in to the proposal.
“We’ve had conversations, but it’s been quite clear that they haven’t given it a lot of thought and we didn’t feel that they had even given a lot of time to our report to understand the rationale behind the by-law itself.”
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Quilty says they’ve engaged with the community since February to craft the bill.
She’s frustrated council is only now asking for a staff report on three items including single-use plastic bags, straws and cutlery.
“So now, to have a councillor randomly pull out three items and say that’s what their going to consider is extremely frustrating. It feels very disrespectful to the community.”
Quilty intends to stay positive and keep the momentum going in the community.
And says her group will be available to provide council with any additional information they may request.
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Mayor Rachel Bailey says the town applauds the efforts of Plastic Free Lunenburg.
She says the group has been effective in raising the issue with local business owners, convincing some to move away from plastic cutlery, plates, bags and cups voluntarily.
However, the mayor says the town is not prepared to be the first municipality across Canada to enact such a comprehensive single-use plastic ban.
“While I should be, I think, flattered that the citizens here thought that Lunenburg has the ability to change consumer behaviour all by ourselves.”
Bailey says council had concerns the town may not have the legal authority or ability to enforce the ban.
And they worried about putting shop and restaurant owners in Lunenburg at a competitive disadvantage.
“Businesses in Lunenburg would have one playing field under the by-law and every other business in Lunenburg County and in the province of Nova Scotia and in the country of Canada would have a different set of rules and regulations to live by.”
Bailey says the town welcomes the federal government’s announcement to introduce a nation-wide single-use plastic ban.
She says the ban needs to come from higher levels of government to be effective and fair for everyone.
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
