Bexley City Council voted Tuesday to ban single-use plastics, just hours after Cuyahoga County voted on its own plastic bag ban.
The measure will ban local stores from providing plastic bags, straws, stirrers, drink stoppers, cutlery and food containers beginning in 2020.
Council president Lori Ann Feibel says she's proud Bexley is the first community in Central Ohio to pass such an ordinance.
“I’ve said on multiple occasions that we have a progressive city that loves our traditions, and we have a tradition of loving our environment and taking care of it," Feibel said.
Richard Sharp was the only council member to vote against the resolution. He said conservation should come through culture change rather than laws, and pointed to Bexley's voluntary recycling program as proof.
"We are setting an example to others that our residents will do the right thing," Sharp said. "They don’t have to be told what to do, and that is the best example for everybody else."
Stores will be required to provide recycled paper bags or reusable bags to consumers for at least 10 cents at the beginning of next year. Additionally, city facilities and events will implement the full plastic ban starting January 1, 2020.
For educational facilities and stores, the bans on other single-use plastics will start January 1, 2021.
