Start of North Myrtle Beach plastic bag ban has been pushed back. What to know

A ban on single-use plastic bags will be delayed in North Myrtle Beach after officials heard concerns from business owners worried about supply shortages.

North Myrtle Beach City Council gave a final vote on Monday to push the start date to July 1, 2022. The members gave an initial vote during a November council meeting.

The ban was originally set to start Jan. 1, 2021, but it was delayed until Jan. 1, 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The ban calls for certain stores, such as groceries and food markets, convenience stores, and restaurants to forgo single-use carry out plastic bags and utilize more environmentally-friendly bags. An exemption will be made for plastic bags used for meat and produce, dry cleaners and newspapers. Bags of prescription drugs, garbage bags and yard and pet waste will also be exempt.

Cheryl Kilday, who serves as president of Destination North Myrtle Beach, the city’s chamber of commerce, sent a letter to City Manager Mike Mahaney last month requesting officials to monitor the supply chain and make sure businesses are ready for the change.

She told The Sun News the chamber has offered to do a community wellness program and send members of her team to stores and discuss their options with them.

“It’s not that people don’t want to [comply]. That’s not what we’re hearing,” Kilday previously said. “We’re hearing people say, ‘I can’t. I can’t get what I need to comply.’”

Environmental groups concerned with the single-use plastic bags’ affect on the earth, including local wildlife, said the amendment’s original call to start the ban Jan. 1, 2023 would be too long of a wait, so council members decided to move forward with the July date during the November meeting.

A committee has been formed to help businesses with the transition.