Outer Banks Bag Ban Repeal

Introduced by Rep. Beverly Boswell (R-Dare), H271 would repeal the ban on single-use plastic shopping bags on the Outer Banks, and prevent other communities in North Carolina from protecting their local economies from the costly environmental impact these bags pose.  Since the initial introduction of this bill, there have been attempts to work this language into other bills such as H56.

The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce opposes H271, and disagrees with the bill’s assertion that the Outer Banks ban has had a negative effect on businesses and, “hinders their ability to create jobs.”  In fact, the opposite has been true since the ban went into effect in 2009. Additionally, the Town of Kill Devil Hills has recently passed a resolution opposing H271.

Single-use plastic shopping bags litter our beaches, roadways, and green spaces. They clog our storm drains, and jam our landfills.  Also, these non-biodegradable bags pose a real threat to aquatic life in our streams, rivers, and the ocean