City Council proclaims July 2021 Plastic Pollution Reduction Month

posted on: 7/21/2021

Mayor Robert Carrier and the City Council recently proclaimed July 2021 to be Plastic Pollution Reduction Month. Carrier read the proclamation at the June 23 meeting, which states:

WHEREAS: The City of Dover strives to be a leader in sustainability and passed a resolution in April 2019 calling for a city-wide, voluntary reduction of the use and distribution of single-use plastics; and

WHEREAS: The City of Dover wishes to conserve resources, minimize waste, reduce greenhouse gas emission and other pollution, and protect the welfare of our residents and wildlife, all of which contribute to the quality of life in Dover; and

WHEREAS: Plastic produces significant pollution, poses health risks at all stages from fossil fuel extraction to production to deterioration, and enters our surface and groundwater supplies as microplastic to contaminate drinking water and food chains; and

WHEREAS: Substantial amounts of plastic continue to increase in landfills because plastic can take up to 500 years to deteriorate and less than 9% of plastic ever gets recycled; and WHEREAS: Significant tax increases for average ratepayers are expected to occur due to the ever-increasing costs of plastic waste transport and landfill costs for Dover residents; and

WHEREAS: Dover residents and businesses have access to many cost-effective alternatives to single-use plastic, including cloth bags, paper cups and plates, reusable water bottles, silicone storage bags, and compostable containers; and

WHEREAS: it is the intent of the City to reduce the negative impacts of plastic noted above, as well as to join with the international effort to reduce pollution and health risks related to plastic.