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6 <br /> 1 WHEREAS, single-use plastics remain in the environment indefinitely, harming wildlife, <br /> 2 impacting water quality, and diminishing the aesthetic character of the County's outdoor <br /> 3 environment; and <br /> 4 <br /> 5 WHEREAS, plastics do not biodegrade in the environment, but instead break down into smaller <br /> 6 micro-plastics thereby presenting a danger to public health by increasing the pathogens and <br /> 7 chemicals in animal tissue and in waterways, lowering water quality, that requiring significant <br /> 8 resources to address; and <br /> 9 <br /> 10 WHEREAS, Orange County wishes to recognize Earth Day this year and promote its <br /> 11 celebration by all County residents; and <br /> 12 <br /> 13 WHEREAS, one effort to protect natural resources is the reduction in the use of ALL single-use <br /> 14 plastics by residents and businesses - by encouraging those selling food to ask customers if <br /> 15 they want the single-use plastic utensils, straws, napkins and extra products rather than <br /> 16 including them with all orders, refusing single-use plastics when offered, and offering <br /> 17 compostable or reusable alternatives; and <br /> 18 <br /> 19 WHEREAS, Orange County and the towns therein are known for and committed to social and <br /> 20 technical innovation, environmental and waste reduction leadership; <br /> 21 <br /> 22 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County <br /> 23 Commissioners does hereby recognize April 22, 2021 as Earth Day 2021, encourage residents <br /> 24 to celebrate Earth Day by participating in planned local activities and events, and declare April <br /> 25 2021 as "Skip the Stuff Month" and further declare July 2021 as "Reduce Single Use Plastics <br /> 26 Month." <br /> 27 <br /> 28 This, the 20th Day of April 2021. <br /> 29 <br /> 30 <br /> 31 <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Renee Price, Chair <br /> 34 Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> 35 <br /> 36 <br /> 37 ATTEST: <br /> 38 <br /> 39 <br /> 40 Laura Jensen, Clerk to the Board <br /> 41 <br /> 42 A motion was made by Commissioner Fowler, seconded by Commissioner Hamilton, to <br /> 43 approve and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation. <br /> 44 <br /> 45 Roll call ensued <br /> 46 <br /> 47 VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> 48 <br /> 49 Commissioner Fowler encouraged everyone to reduce, reuse, and recycle. <br /> 50 Chair Price said she hoped to attend some of the events. <br />