Students are behind borough’s ban on plastic bags

Borough shoppers can soon say goodbye to single-use plastic bags.

At Tuesday’s work session, council asked its solicitor to draft an ordinance to forbid distribution of single use plastic bags in stores and shops. Borough Manager Mike Perrone told the audience that a ban is likely.

Although they won’t be able to vote for more than six years, Quaker Leadership Team’s sixthgraders — former West Chester Friends School students — were instrumental in successfully lob-

bying for the ban. The students met eight to 10 times during the summer.

Council President Diane LeBold was pleased with the student input.

“This gives me hope for the future,” LeBold said.

“Borough council’s unanimous vote to create a transition plan for our businesses and draft an ordinance to ban single-use HDPE plastic bags in the borough is yet another demonstration of West Chester’s environmental leadership in our region,” said Mayor Dianne Herrin. “These bags are simply terrible for the environment, they clog our storm drains, and many end up as part of a monstrous plastic stew in our oceans, destroying wildlife and the very ecosystems on which we all depend for life. They are a temporary convenience we can all do without, and there are better alternatives.”

Herrin said she is proud of the students for their initiative.

“I am so very proud of these students for engaging borough businesses in the discussion and working with our local government to improve our community,” she said. “These young students are true citizens of the 21st century, and they are the guiding stars leading us toward a sustainable and healthy future.”

Councilman Michael Galey said he was impressed with the effort. He saluted the hard work and dedication of the students.

“You made a difference,” Galey told the students.

As part of a Power Point demonstration, the students formally addressed council.

Former West Chester Friends School students included, Kiran Schatz, now at Stetson Middle School, Maddox Cohen-Pierce Middle School, Auden Vosburgh-Westtown School, Paige Fisher-Westtown, William Bradley-Westtown, Isaac Harte- Delaware Valley Friends School and Lulu Slattery-Fugett Middle School

Amy Domenick oversaw the group. She teaches Physical Education and Guidance and is the co-convenor of the Quaker Leadership Team with Michelle Lozowski.

“I am incredibly proud of these students,” Domenick said. “The energy and focus that they put into this project is truly inspiring.

“As teachers in a Quaker school, we hope that when our students leave us, they find their voice and make a difference in the world. These children have already done that.”

The sixth-graders stressed that single use bags are “harmful and destructive.” Council heard that it takes 500 to 1,000 years to break down plastic in a landfill, 97 percent of plastic bags are not recycled and 12 billion barrels of oil are used in the United States to produce bags.

Council learned that single use bags are harmful to wildlife, clog storm drains, often end up in sewer systems and can’t be recycled.

Suggestions offered by the young activists included, reusing bags, using reusable bags, changing to paper bags, reuse of a packing box or carrying canvas bags.

The students noted that retailers BJ’s, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods haven’t given away plastic bags for years, while their businesses thrive.

The youngsters called a Rite-Aid in San Rafael, Calif., and learned that the pharmacy charges 10 cents per plastic bag and customers are supportive. The kids were told during a call to a Rite-Aid in Pacifica, Calif., that most customers were already “green” and the store charges for single use bags and sells reusable bags.

A survey of 22 businesses in the borough showed that 11 merchants use plastic bags, nine don’t and two sometimes use them.

Twenty four of 26 pedestrians in the borough replied that they thought a ban was good idea.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Former West Chester Friends School students lobbied successfully to ban single use plastic bags in West Chester.