Kira Erickson reports from the Langley City Council meeting of Jun., 6, 2022.
Members of the Langley City Council unanimously approved a zero waste ordinance Monday night that was written in part by middle school students who are part of South Whidbey School District’s Alternative Learning Experience program.
[Ed. Note: While Ms. Erickson’s story states that the ordinance was approved, it has not yet received final approval. The council voted to accept the first reading of the ordinance; a second reading, after review by the city’s legal counsel, will occur at a future City Council meeting.]
They Said It
Councilmember Craig Cyr congratulated the students on their presentation and said he was fascinated to learn from it that people could be ingesting up to 5 grams of plastic every week.
[South Whidbey School District Director] Joe Greenheron, a parent of one of the students presenting, thanked the council for considering the ordinance.
“That’s the future of our community and they’re taking it upon themselves to educate us, the adults, on how to make the planet that they’re going to inherit a better place,” he said of the students.
Councilmember Harolynne Bobis asked how the ordinance will be enforced.
“If we don’t enforce this, then it’s just more pretty words,” she said.
Councilmember Rhonda Salerno responded that if there is a hardship for a business, owners can ask for an exemption for a year.
