Ordinance 24-2019 Environment - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

ORDINANCE NO. 24-2019 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF PALM BEACH, PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA, AMENDING THE TOWN CODE OF ORDINANCES AT CHAPTER 42, ENVIRONMENT, TO INCLUDE A NEW ARTICLE X, TITLED PROHIBITION OF POLYSTYRENE CONTAINERS AND SINGLE USE CARRY OUT PLASTIC BAGS; PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS; PROHIBITING THE USE OF EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE CONTAINERS AND SINGLE USE CARRY OUT PLASTIC BAGS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE TOWN; PROVIDING FOR EXEMPTIONS; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES AND AMENDING SECTION 2-439 OF THE TOWN CODE RELATING TO CITATION FINE SCHEDULE; PROVIDING FOR REPEAL OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR CODIFICATION; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town of Palm Beach declares that it is in the best interest of the public health, safety and welfare of its residents and visitors to reduce litter and pollutants on the land and in the waters in and surrounding the Town; and WHEREAS, expanded polystyrene is a petroleum based plastic most commonly incorrectly referred to by the name of "Styrofoam" which is actually the proprietary trade name of a polystyrene foam product; and WHEREAS, expanded polystyrene containers and single -use carry out plastic bags are detrimental to the environment because they do not fully degrade, they overburden landfills, introduce unsafe chemicals into the environment, become litter and create hazards for land and aquatic animals due to ingestion, and create impediments to waste reduction and recycling goals, while creating unsightly litter; and WHEREAS, use and distribution of expanded polystyrene containers and single -use carry out plastic bags by retailers to consumers for use in carrying purchased goods has a detrimental effect on the public health, safety and welfare of the Town, County and State; and