Specifically, the ordinance prohibits businesses within
Kiawah from distributing single-use plastic carryout bags,
plastic straws, and all products made from Styrofoam. The
language of the law was borrowed heavily from that in the
Charleston County regulation (effective September 8, 2019) to
have consistent rulemaking in our immediate area. However,
similar to the Folly Beach regulation, the Kiawah ordinance
goes on to prohibit the USE of such items, plus balloons, on
the beaches of Kiawah.
Compliance with this new ordinance, for consumers, is
really not that hard. For one thing, Kiawah retailers will do
most of the work for you, supplying paper bags and straws
and cardboard boxes for your purchases on checkout. As
you have been able to do for some time, it helps everyone
if you bring your own reusable bags into the store for your
purchases. With respect to the beach, that reusable grocery
bag will work great for beach items. Just remember to pack
any food you bring in containers that you can take home and
reuse. Please note the bullet list on page 29 of things you can
do to reduce your plastic use.
WINTER/SPRING 2020 • VOLUME 42
So, how did we get here?
The ordinance came about as a result of the efforts of the
Town’s Environmental Committee and the Environmental
Science Committee of the Conservancy. In early 2018, to
have a targeted group to consider various plastics initiatives
specifically, these two groups organized a joint sub-committee
(Plastics Initiatives Committee Kiawah or PICK). PICK had
the stated mission “To foster Kiawah as a green community
through education, outreach, and research.”
The PICK committee met several times throughout the
summer and fall of 2018. PICK initiatives included working
with Turtle Patrol and the South Carolina Aquarium to
document litter pick-up through a Citizen Scientist app,
organizing an island-wide litter sweep event, and developing
lists of non-plastic product alternatives for businesses.
During this period, a number of our neighboring coastal
communities enacted their own plastic bans. It was clear to
all concerned that the Island was potentially falling behind in
this area and that it needed to step up and formally regulate
plastics. The plastics problem on Kiawah was not about to go
away with education and goodwill alone.
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