The BOA Programs and Services committee met on March 19th holding a public hearing on the proposed ban on plastic bags (pages 55-58). When this was last posted to V14, talk was centered around bag fees. The scope of the current ordnance is interesting in that it includes plastic and paper bags, health safety concerns surrounding reusable bags and is free of fees for the use of plastic bags.
The Board of Aldermen hereby finds that the reduction in the use of plastic bags by commercial entities in the City of Newton (the “City”) is a public purpose that protects the marine environment, advances solid waste reduction and protects waterways. This Ordinance seeks to reduce the number of plastic bags that are being used, discarded and littered, and to promote the use of reusable checkout bags by retail stores located in the City. Further, this Ordinance seeks to reduce the use of paper bags, due to their greater use of natural resources and higher cost impacts on retailers. This Ordinance also seeks to ensure that customers using reusable checkout bags are made aware of the need to keep those bags sanitized between uses in order to protect against the transmission of foodborne illnesses.
Some of my observations from the meeting.
- The conversation was mostly cordial.
- The environmental folks spoke about their issues, permanent pollutant that never leaves the environment nor food chain.
- The business folks spoke about the cost to convert from plastic and lost marketing opportunities.
- The alderman, who spoke, indicated that this was targeting large stores with a phased in option to protect the small retailers.
- The city’s public health commissioner may not able to enforce the ordinance.
- Ted Hess-Mahan has not heard “poop” so many times since his kids were much younger.
The two most eloquent speakers were residents, one who surveyed the plastics he saw in a single day and thought that we would be better served educating folks about the bigger issue of pervasive plastics, and another who related the trials she observed in “giving up plastics” for lent letting us know that it is possible but challenging.
While I have not personally observed the “streets with trees littered by plastic grocery bags”, I frequently see plastic newspaper bags (exempt from this ordinance) walking around town.
No vote was taken last week and some comments from committee members expressed concern that more thought may be needed.
Details on the Montgomery County MD bag fee, which I think is an excellent approach:
http://www3.montgomerycountymd.gov/311/%28S%28q4btvi4532152m55aa4oztzm%29%29/Solutions.aspx?SolutionId=1-2H7NJZ
Groot, thank you. I have never been referred to as “eloquent” before. That said, I would like to make two edits to your comments.
1) “one who surveyed the plastics he saw in a single day “ should be “plastic and other trash he picked up in a single day”. I am concerned that of all the people who raised the issue of plastic trash and pollution that night, no one else indicated that s/he had picked any up that day. It is one thing to talk about trash and pollution; it is quite another to actually do something about it. I use the multi-use plastic bags that I get when shopping to pick up trash in the neighborhood. They are only single use bags if you treat them as such. Public education and eliminating the phrase “single use” would go a long way in improving the situation.
2) “the bigger issue of pervasive plastics” should be “the bigger issue of pervasive trash”. As our aldermen continue their discussion about plastic and paper bags, it appears they are limiting the ordinance to exclude the plastic bags for newspapers/magazines delivered to homes, the bags of white stone samples that landscapers leave in our driveways, the big dry cleaner bags for suits and dresses, the plastic wrapping used to hold items on pallets , plastic bags used by stores to package produce, meat, flowers, etc.
The aldermen also expressed concern not to economically hurt the small businesses at last week’s meeting; that seems to be missing in the current draft. So this ban has been watered down with a now anticipated minimal impact on trash on Newton’s streets, parking lots and in the parks.
While I would love to “give up” plastic bags, I can see that when I have soup take out I need a plastic bag. I bring my own bags for my weekly grocery shopping and I resuse and reduce and recycle. However, this won’t reduce the amount of trash on the streets. Residents and people who pass in and out of our community need to treat our land as important. We don’t have enough trash cans around the city and they aren’t emptied enough. Both cost money. While driving around town, I see people (who don’t think I see them), dropping their trash on the sidewalk (yes, I am in a car, and they are walking, but that doesn’t give them the liberty to drop trash on the sidewalk). Then there is the trash that comes from when the trash truck lifts the can, and something falls out. Every week, I pick up the strays on my corner, however I know trash blows away while I am at work.
I would love the BOA to encourage a more wholistic view of reuse, reduce and recycle. A swap shop at the “dump” or other creative things. I know plastic bags aren’t the best, but some things need plastic bags.
However, the BOA has many other urgent things to discuss and find solutions to the growing population in our schools, the decaying sewer pipes, reduce potholes, rebuild our fire stations, and other items that others aren’t going to tackle. There will be state wide and nationwide movements for plastic bags, but no one is going to tell us how to fix the fire stations in Newton.
There is a use for plastic bage, first for dog owner’s to pick up after their dog and what is the differance if they use plastic bags from the store or if they purchase plastic dog bags.I see mom’s using plastic bags for diaper bags, some people use them to take their lunch to work and I use them for my small waist basket’s in my home, very convient. Further more Newton burns their trash, I do not see why certain Alderman want to create another ordiance. This city is starting to look like Cambridge with all the restrictions. The Alderman have more inportant issues on their agenda
one I will mention are the street’s in this city, one must remember the city is responsible for the damage to our cars if they do not keep them up. Right now, some of the pot holes are big enough to destroy your front end.
I re-use the plastic bags I get from Star, Walgreen’s, CVS etc to clean up after my dog, after I scoop my cat’s litter box I put it into the plastic bag, for small waste cans, to carry things, to carry my lunch to work, etc. I re-use plastic bags so much that if I could no longer get them at establishments in Newton, I would make sure I did my shopping in Needham.
At least one landscaper must have read my comment last night. I walked outside early this morning to find the first-of-the-season plastic bag with white stones and an advertisement on my walkway. These bags are n0t banned by the current draft version of the ordinance.
@Patrick, I have a two family and got two bags of rocks. This is one landscaper that I won’t be using.
This current proposal seems intended not to pass. Notice now the proposal outlines every reason not to ban anything;
(a) it highlights marine life, which we have none;
(b) it changes the scope to include banning paper bags due to “greater” use of resources (greater than what is not defined, but we assume plastic);
(c) it raises concerns about reusable bags for grocery use.
In other words, the proposal acknowledges the weakness of all arguments for doing anything around retail bags. Moreover, City Hall is clearly not liking it. Try again next year, but Keep-it-Simple-Stupid.
If you want to ban something that might have a real environmental impact,.. besides plastic bags, consider banning the demolition of a house ! The city by its lax zoning regulations is promoting developer teardowns of perfectly livable, affordable homes in this city for the construction and sale of new homes for the wealthy ( and for the profits of real estate developers). All this at the expense of our environment. Talk about a waste of resources !
And Newton likes to think itself Green !