South Whitehall commissioners recently approved formation of a green advisory committee which will include board representatives Mark Pinsley and Christina “Tori” Morgan and several volunteers from the community.

Earlier this year, Pinsley raised the issue of single-use plastics and their impact on the environment.

He asked whether the township and public might consider limiting items such as bags, water bottles, straws and other plastics used once and thrown away.

When staff prepared a survey to seek residents’ comments for use in the next waste removal contract, they included several questions regarding single use plastics and other green initiatives.

“The survey came out generally positive,” Pinsley said. “People are interested in doing good things for the environment.”

He reported, however, the state legislature inserted a ruling in the budget prohibiting municipalities from restricting single-use plastics for at least one year while the state looks into what the cost would be.

Nevertheless, South Whitehall is proceeding with the committee to focus on education about MS4 and to make recommendations for recycling.

Board President Morgan commented.

“We can see how green initiatives would impact township projects,” Morgan said. “We can also feed into other issues like how to handle the spotted lantern fly. We need to have goals.”

Pinsley advised residents to put pressure on state representatives to move forward on measures to limit plastic waste and to advance green initiatives to help the environment.