Statement on Plastic Bag Ban Passing the State Senate

MASSPIRG

MASSPIRG Executive  Director Janet Domenitz released the following statement on the Plastic Bag Bill passing the  Massachusetts Senate:

We are grateful that the Senate took action last night on an important environmental issue —reducing plastic waste.  Plastic bags start out as fossil fuels and end up as pollution in landfills and incinerators;  or as litter in our parks, neighborhoods and oceans. We need to go back to the future—reducing waste and single use plastics. The strong plastic bag ban bill, that was approved by a vote of 36-4,  includes a fee on paper bags to encourage reusables,  like the laws in Connecticut, Vermont and  Maine; and no exemptions for ‘thicker’ plastic bags.
 
We extend our thanks to Senate President Spilka, chief sponsor Jamie  Eldridge, Ways and Means Chairman Michael Rodrigues and all the senators who have spent time and effort on this bill, and we look forward to working with the Legislature to get this bill passed into law.