TOMS RIVER-An ordinance to ban the use of single-use paper and plastic bags in the Township of Toms River was defeated on Tuesday with a 4-3 vote by the council. Some Republican members of the council felt the ordinance, hatched by the Democrats on the board went too far when it comes to the powers of local government.
Councilman Daniel Rodrick called the ordinance misguided and said that reusable bags also have negative consequences such as the harboring of bacteria in multiuse bags.
“They need to be used 130 times before they have a smaller carbon footprint than plastic bags,” he added.
Councilwoman Laurie Laurie Huryk, Terrance Turnbach, and Maria Maruca voted yes. Mayor-elect Mo Hill, Brian Kubiel, George Wittman and Rodrick voted no.