Fellow Residents of Currituck, Dare and Hyde Counties:
Here on North Carolina’s coast, our economic livelihood depends on the well-being of our waters, our beaches and our environment. We all know that clean water and healthy marine life are essential to support our commercial and recreational fishermen. Pristine beaches, wildlife areas and outdoor recreation are among the biggest attractions for visitors. Our tourism industry reaches out worldwide selling the Outer Banks as a calming, beautiful place to relax and enjoy the gifts Mother Nature has bestowed on our community.
Over the past few years, as the population has grown, I have watched the Outer Banks lose some of its charm and some of its beauty. With more litter and more pollution, we have lost a bit of who we are, and what we want the rest of the world to know about us.
Because of you, I set out to do something about it.
North Carolina uses 3 billion plastic bags per year – more than 10 million in Currituck, Dare and Hyde counties alone. These bags contribute to overburdened landfills, threaten wildlife and marine life, degrade the beaches and other natural landscapes of North Carolina’s coast, and, in many cases, require consumption of oil and natural gas during the manufacturing process.
Additionally, in windy areas like ours, these flimsy bags flutter through the air, get stuck in our trees, and end up in the water where they could endanger turtles, fish and other marine species. At least 19 states have considered legislation in the past two years to recycle, tax or ban these bags, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Only San Francisco has an outright ban – and it is my hope that the Outer Banks may soon have one as well.
This week, the North Carolina Senate, by a vote of 47-1, overwhelmingly approved my proposal to require large retailers and chain stores in Dare, Currituck and Hyde counties to stop providing plastic bags for their customers’ use. Instead, the stores will furnish paper bags made out of recycled content or, better yet, customers will bring their own reusable bags to carry their goods. In addition, retailers will have large signs and educational efforts encouraging the public to use their own bags.
For an area like the Outer Banks, protecting our environment is an investment in our economy. Dare, Currituck, and Hyde counties are some of the most environmentally sensitive and environmentally valuable parts of the state. This initiative will help us send a strong message to the 3 million people who visit the Outer Banks each year that we care about our environment and our community.
This message is so very important to convey. We must take every step we can to keep our community beautiful, not just now but for generations to come. Our barrier islands and coastal counties are at risk due to sea level rise, stormwater pollution, and so many other factors. This is but a start – and it does not address other pollutants. Reducing the use of plastic bags is just one small thing we can do to promote a healthier environment for us all. It is the right thing to do, today and for the future.
Sincerely yours,
Marc Basnight
Nancy
outerbanksharvest
Michelle
