Asheville Reporter

The City of Asheville has concluded its single-use plastic reduction initiative, a mission aimed at supporting a thriving local economy and maintaining a clean, healthy environment. Identified as an area of concern by the City Council in October 2022, the Sustainability Department was directed to take a phased approach to reduce single-use plastic consumption.

The first phase involved updating Chapter 15 of the City Code to prohibit the use of plastic bags in curbside brush and leaf collection. This ordinance change was approved by the City Council on January 10 and implemented on August 1, 2023. To aid in this transition, paper bags were provided free of charge to residents from fall 2023 through spring 2024.

The second phase featured a community engagement effort to gather input from city staff, Asheville residents, and businesses. This feedback informed recommendations for further steps on reducing single-use plastics within the community. The analysis covered sanitation services related to single-use plastic products, legal authority for banning such products at points of sale, potential costs for residents and businesses, and resources required for implementation. This phase ran from December 2022 through October 2023.

The final phase introduced the Less Plastic Asheville Challenge, a voluntary initiative encouraging residents to reduce their single-use plastic consumption. The city supported this effort by providing information, resources, and fostering friendly competition among participants. The campaign lasted from February 19 through May 31, 2024.

Midway through the project, on September 22, 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly approved a state budget that included a law prohibiting local governments from banning single-use plastic products. Consequently, Asheville cannot adopt ordinances banning plastic bags or expanded polystyrene (StyrofoamTM) takeout containers.

This marks the conclusion of Asheville's single-use plastic reduction project. A summary was presented to the City Council’s Environment and Safety Committee at their March 26 meeting.

For more information on waste reduction methods or to stay updated with the Sustainability Department's work, visit the sanitation division website or sign up for their quarterly newsletter.

###