The production and use of thin-film, single-use plastic checkout
bags have significant impacts on the environment, including: contributing
to pollution of the land environment indefinitely; creating a burden
to recycling facilities through improper recycling; clogging storm
drains; contributing to the potential death of wildlife and marine
animals through ingestion and entanglement; and requiring the use
of millions of barrels of crude oil nationally for their manufacture.
The purpose of this article is to reduce the usage of thin-film plastic
check-out bags by all retail establishments in the Town of Easton.
BIODEGRADABLE BAG
A bag that: 1) contains no polymers derived from fossil fuels;
and 2) is intended for single use and will decompose in a natural
setting at a rate comparable to other biodegradable materials such
as paper, leaves, and food waste.
REUSABLE BAG
A bag, with handles, that is specifically designed for multiple
use and is made of thick plastic (durable, non-toxic plastic other
than polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride that is generally considered
a food-grade material that is more than 4.0 mils thick), cloth, fabric
or other durable materials.
RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT
A facility selling new or used goods to an end user within
the town of Easton, Massachusetts, which shall include restaurant,
bakery, and any establishment where products or goods are dispensed
to a consumer for offsite use or consumption.
THIN-FILM PLASTIC CHECK-OUT BAGS
Typically with plastic handles, are bags with a thickness
under 4.0 mils that are intended for single-use transport of purchased
products.
This article shall become effective 30 days after adoption,
with a six-month grace period for retail establishments under 3,000
square feet.