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7 <br /> 1 The Board considered voting to approve a proclamation declaring October 2018 as <br /> 2 "Reduce Single Use Plastics Month" and declaring March 2019 as "Skip the Straw Month" and <br /> 3 authorize the Chair to sign. <br /> 4 Robert Williams, Solid Waste Director, introduced Bruce Woody, new Assistant Director. <br /> 5 He then presented this item. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 BACKGROUND: In the spring of 2018, Commissioner Penny Rich petitioned that the BOCC <br /> 8 consider implementing a skip the straw program. In reviewing the issue, the Solid Waste <br /> 9 Advisory Group (SWAG), in addition to supporting the Skip the Straw program, proposed <br /> 10 expanding on the program to encourage the reduction of all single use plastics and having the <br /> 11 County and each Town during the month of October issue the proposed proclamation. Each <br /> 12 Town is anticipating considering the proclamation during the month of October. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 Hundreds of millions of tons of plastic are produced every year, most of which cannot be <br /> 15 recycled. Petroleum based plastic is not recyclable and usually goes into a landfill where it is <br /> 16 buried or it ends up in storm-water, lakes and eventually the oceans. While plastic will not <br /> 17 biodegrade, it will break down into tiny particles after many years. In the course of breaking <br /> 18 down, it releases toxic chemicals, which make their way into the food and water supply. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 The National Skip the Straw Day, founded in 2017, is held the fourth Friday in February, and <br /> 21 there is a movement in the greater Triangle area and with coastal counties in North Carolina to <br /> 22 declare March 2019 a state-wide Plastic Straw Free Month. By issuing the proclamation now <br /> 23 declaring March as Skip the Straw Month, staff anticipates being able to call more attention to <br /> 24 the issue and garner widespread community support. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 PUBLIC COMMENT: <br /> 27 Kim Piracci said the connection between consumerism and global warming is an <br /> 28 infrequently discussed problem. She said fossil fuel burning is usually divided between <br /> 29 industrial, transportation, commercial and residential sectors, but recent studies look at the <br /> 30 burning of fossil fuels differently: the consumer lifestyle approach. She said this research <br /> 31 shows that 80% of fossil fuel burning occurs to support the direct or indirect consumer activity <br /> 32 of our lifestyles. She said and example of direct consumer activity is driving a gas vehicle. She <br /> 33 said an indirect example is the process of building the car to begin with. She said it is a hard <br /> 34 reality for people to face, but it is an important message to keep repeating. She said the use of <br /> 35 plastic is a good start, especially single-use plastics. <br /> 36 Commissioner Rich read the proclamation: <br /> 37 <br /> 38 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 39 PROCLAMATION <br /> 40 OCTOBER 2018 — "REDUCE SINGLE USE PLASTICS MONTH"& <br /> 41 MARCH 2019 — "SKIP THE STRAW MONTH" <br /> 42 <br /> 43 WHEREAS, single-use plastics such as straws, cups, utensils, and take-out containers are not <br /> 44 recyclable and must be landfilled; and <br /> 45 <br /> 46 WHEREAS, single-use plastic bags are recyclable but still cause harm in the environment; and <br /> 47 <br /> 48 WHEREAS, single-use plastics remain in the environment indefinitely, harming wildlife, <br /> 49 impacting water quality, and diminishing the aesthetic character of the County's outdoor <br /> 50 environment; and <br />