Groton — Stonington recently passed a ban on single-use plastic bags and straws, and another area town could be next.

The Groton Town Council is taking steps toward an ordinance to reduce single-use plastics in Groton, while also supporting a proposed state Senate bill that calls for a statewide ban on plastic bags.

Town staff drafted a proposal, based on Stonington’s ordinance, which attorneys have approved for the council to review, Town Manager John Burt said.

The draft ordinance, which is anticipated soon to be introduced to the Town Council at a Committee of the Whole meeting for its review, would ban businesses from providing single-use plastic carryout bags and food establishments from providing plastic straws, cutlery and stirrers. The ordinance provides exceptions, including for plastic bags for dry cleaning, newspapers, bulk items, prescription drugs, frozen food, meat or fish, and for customers with disabilities who require a plastic straw. If it were to be approved, the ordinance would have a six-month public education period before going into effect.

The Town Council also is backing a statewide proposal, unanimously voting at its Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday to recommend endorsing the proposed Senate bill that would ban single-use plastic bags starting Jan. 1, 2020.

The steps follow a survey by the Conservation Commission that received 483 responses and found "very high support" for reducing single-use plastics among residents and businesses. Based on the survey, the Conservation Commission recommended the town pass an ordinance.

Councilor Conrad Heede has been leading the Council’s efforts to raise awareness about reducing single-use plastics. He said that, following the commission's recommendation, he’d like to align Groton with other coastal communities that are passing similar bans with the goal of having less plastic litter making its way into the water supply or harming sea life.

An alignment of shoreline towns with similar bans provides consistency for businesses that operate in multiple towns, helps with public education and creates momentum for the state to pick up on, he pointed out.

Stonington on Thursday became the latest shoreline community to take action toward that goal.

“I think it helps generate awareness and hopefully support,” Heede said of Stonington passing its ban.

Mystic is part of both Stonington and Groton, so Groton Town Mayor Patrice Granatosky said she felt it was important to match what Stonington does for consistency and to urge other towns in the region to adopt similar measures, to help encourage the state to take action.

“I think it’s wonderful if we can do these things in our little pockets, but you’re not really going to get the full impact until the whole state does it, and then the whole country does it,” she said.

Larry Dunn, vice chairman of the Conservation Commission, said the commission is advocating for reducing plastics for a host of reasons, including public health, environmental and economic reasons, and to reduce litter.

The commission supports passing a statewide ban and educating the public about why this is in their best interest. But, in the absence of a statewide ban, the commission is advocating for the town to pass its own ordinance.

“The more the towns take action, the more the state has to do something,” he said.

“We feel very positive that’s its definitely in motion and progress is being made,” added Kristin Distante, a member of the commission. “We’re riding the wave of what is going on across the country and across the globe with working on this problem.”

k.drelich@theday.com