A stray bag flutters along Monmouth Street recently.
A proposed ban on plastic bags may be tabled yet again while its sponsor, Red Bank Councilman Mike DuPont, meets with objectors and other interested parties, today’s Asbury Park Press reports.
The aim would be to craft a compromise version of the law, the Press says, reporting that DuPont…
said he is willing to table the ordinance Monday night to meet with the business community, the environmental commission and other council members on a possible compromise.
The council meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday for a public hearing and final vote on the proposed bag ban.
The idea of tabling it was suggested by Nancy Adams, executive director of the RiverCenter business alliance.
Adams said Tuesday that she’d like a compromise worked out between the two proposals, which accomplishes the goal to reduce bag litter in the streets and the river.
“I suggested to get the players at the table to draft an ordinance that is acceptable to everyone,” Adams said. “Sit down with the big (grocery) users, the small (retail) user, RiverCenter, the Environmental Commission and concerned council people and come up with something that will work for all.”
DuPont said he plans to call Adams and tell her he’s willing to do that.
“I’m open to compromise as long as it keeps the interest of our natural resources a priority,” DuPont said. “If she wishes to pursue a compromise, I’ll ask that it (the proposed ordinance) be tabled.”
Debate over an ordinance has see-sawed between DuPont’s proposal of a bag ban at the store and Councilwoman Mary Grace Cangemi’s proposal of having customers recycle or reuse recyclable plastic bags. Critics of DuPont’s plan said that it would force bags into landfills, while opponents of Cangemi’s proposal said recycling would have a low compliance rate.
Cangemi said she’s also ready to talk about a compromise.
“Count me in. I think it’s a great idea to have the people directly affected by the cost and implementation involved,” she said. “What matters is getting the job done. There are much better options.”
