Plastic bags to be banned in Beaufort County

BEAUFORT COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - Businesses in Beaufort County will soon be forbidden from providing single-use plastic bags to customers.

The county, along with several municipalities, passed a "plastic bag ban" ordinance, which will go into effect this fall.

Instead of plastic bags, companies are encouraged to offer recyclable paper bags. Some exceptions to the rule include dry cleaning bags, grocery store produce bags and bulk food bags.

The ordinance will go into effect November 1, and violating businesses may be cited.

According to a joint news release from the municipalities of Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Port Royal, and Beaufort, the law aims to better protect the environment, especially waterways and marine life.

Several Charleston-area municipalities have passed similar bans, including Folly Beach, Isle of Palms and Mount Pleasant.

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