Middletown EAC urges board to study single‑use plastics ban; residents submit petition

Kevin Deeny, speaking for the Middletown Environmental Action Committee, told the Board that local cleanups and modeling show heavy single‑use plastics use and environmental persistence. He cited an estimate modeled for Middletown of roughly 13,513,000 single‑use plastic bags used annually, which EAC materials translate into fuel and emissions equivalents.

"For a population of Middletown size of roughly 45,000 people or so, we use about 13,000,000 plastic bags in a year's time," Deeny said, calling elimination of the waste at source the most effective strategy.

Board members asked for evidence of measurable benefits and information on business and vulnerable populations. Deeny and staff cited monitoring by organizations such as PennEnvironment and said sample ordinances and implementation examples from neighboring municipalities exist. Staff recommended stakeholder outreach that would include impacted businesses, exemptions for medical needs and a phased approach so businesses can use existing stock.

Resident Sally Maruca presented a petition representing 117 residents and urged the Board to pass a ban. The Board accepted the petition, thanked the EAC for its work and directed staff to continue stakeholder engagement and to collect sample ordinances for later consideration; there was no ordinance before the board or vote to adopt a ban at this meeting.