Plastic Bag, Straw Ban Supported By Doylestown Residents: Survey

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH,PA — The survey results are in and indicate strong support for a plastic bag and straw ban in Doylestown.

The survey, conducted by the Environment and Recreation Committee of Doylestown Borough Council and the Doylestown Borough Environmental Advisory Council, was available online earlier in the summer. It contained 13 questions aimed to gauge support for a ban on the distribution of single-use plastic bags, straws and Styrofoam take-out containers by Doylestown Borough businesses.

Nearby towns, including Lambertville, NJ, have recently instituted such bans.

The concept appears to be a popular one in Doylestown, too.

More than a thousand responses from Doylestown business owners and residents were received and show strong support for a ban on the single-use plastic items.

Of the responses received, more than 70 percent of residents expressed support for a plastic bag ban. Nearly 80 percent of Doylestown residents who took the survey support a ban on plastic straws.

Business owners also expressed support for banning the single-use items. Of the 151 business owners who took the survey, 105 indicated support for a ban on plastic bags and 100 said they supported a straw ban, too.

According to information from the borough, the survey results will be reviewed by Borough Council as the basis for further public discussion in the coming months.

"It is clear that the Doylestown community wants this issue explored further and Borough Council intends to do so. Plastic reduction involves environmental, legal, regulatory, and practical issues. These will be explored in a community dialogue as we work toward the creation of a policy for plastic reduction that reflects the community's goals," information from the borough said.

You can see the full survey results here.