Samantha Look, left, was joined by high school students Daniel Gaines and Astrid Tilton and VCS board member Joan Malkin at Edgartown selectmen's meeting.
Steve Myrick

Edgartown Will Let Voters Decide on Plastic Bag Ban

Steve Myrick
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<p>Edgartown selectmen said they will likely put the issue of a ban on single-use plastic bags before voters at the annual town meeting in April.</p>

Edgartown selectmen said they will likely put the issue of a ban on single-use plastic bags before voters at the annual town meeting in April.

The Vineyard Conservation Society presented a draft town meeting warrant article at the board’s Monday meeting. The organization is campaigning for the ban in all six Island towns.

The ban would apply only to thin plastic bags, which retailers now use to bag groceries and other goods at the point of sale.

“We feel it’s really important for our community to do as responsible stewards of our environment,” said VCS staff member Samantha Look.

Ms. Look was joined by charter school student Astrid Tilton and regional high school student Daniel Gaines, who are both active in environmental issues and are helping with the initiative.

The conservation organization is promoting the financial benefits of banning single-use plastic bags. Ms. Look said they are recyclable only in very limited circumstances, and drive up the cost of recycling.

“It’s the best of intentions gone wrong,” Ms. Look said. “They are not recyclable in single stream recycling. They cannot be recycled in the way that we think of, made into more bags.”

Edgartown health agent Matt Poole offered support.

“I don’t think the board of health has an official position, but we would support the effort,” Mr. Poole said. “It’s a function of mechanics. How do you get the regulation on the books, how do you enforce it.”

The consensus of the selectmen was to submit an article for the town meeting.

“I think we’re in agreement the article be presented, and let the town decide,” said selectman Margaret Serpa.

The town of Nantucket banned single-use plastic bags more than two decades ago. On Cape Cod,

Barnstable recently joined Falmouth, Harwich, Wellfleet, and Provincetown in banning single-use plastic bags , usually allowing a period of time for large grocery stores and other retailers to adjust their procedures.

Comments

Leman Oak Bluffs

I would assume reusable bags would be encouraged, and paper bags would still be available. Portland Oregon, along with other west coast cities have plastic bag bans. Perhaps do a little search and see what these locations are doing for alternatives.

Mark Portland Oregon

As a former Vineyard resident I will chime in from Portland Oregon on this. Portland is a fairly clean city but that is as much mindset as much as regulation coming into play. The vast majority of the people I know utilize reusable totes. You can, in many cases, elect to receive 5-10 cents off for using your own bag or donate that money to a local charity (often a food bank). Plastic bags are totally unnecessary and it really takes far less time to become accustomed to living without them than you may think.

Another poster commented "more trees to cut down, more paper bags". Well the difference there is that paper is an easily renewable resource. Responsible forestry and cleaner mill operations provide an abundance of jobs and do not adversely affect the environment.
One way to look at it is "will living without these plastic bags inconvenience my life to a point that I'd rather pollute the environment?" I know my answer

Robert Skydell Chilmark

This is a great initiative and deserves the full support of the community and elected leaders. Single-use plastic bags are an insidious scourge on the environment worldwide. Several countries have already banned their use and seen dramatic results on many levels.
In Nicaragua, where I live for part of the year we refer to single-use plastic bags as 'the National Bird' since they festoon the trees and clog the waterways and shoreline.
But to answer your question Christine; what did we do before these things became so commonplace? They have only been in use for a few decades so don't assume that we simply can't live without them.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/01/2015 - 07:34

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Pia Webster Edgartown

Amen.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/01/2015 - 07:43

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Edgartown Resident Edgartown

They're not single use. We use them multiple times, but I guess it's better that we buy heavier trash bags for use in garbage cans, or for wet towels, swimsuits etc. This is short-sighted and will end up costing people more money...and adding to more plastic and resource use.

Here's what happens when you ban single-use plastic bags:

• The solution is not a plastic bag ban, which is an emotional response which fails to strike at the heart of the issue; instead of a market-based solution, a ban shifts production to paper bags and compostable bags, both of which have heavy environmental consequences.
• The solution is not switching to paper bags or compostable plastic bags. A study on the life cycle of three types of disposable bags (single-use plastic, paper, and compostable plastic) showed that both compostable plastic and paper bags require more material per bag in the manufacturing process. This means "higher consumption of raw materials in the manufacture of the bags...[and] greater energy in bag manufacturing and greater fuel use in the transport of the finished product. ...The added requirements of manufacturing energy and transport for the compostable and paper bag systems far exceed the raw material use in the standard plastic bag system." (from a peer reviewed Boustead Consulting & Associates report)

Possible solutions:
1. Charge a small fee for each single-use bag (.05)
2. Give a credit for each single-use bag recycled (.05)
3. Make reusable bags available at very low cost.

Brendan Ohara Cambridge

Its not surprising that you failed to post your name. Each of your arguments echo the debunked claims that have been made by plastic bag makers in the two dozen other cities and towns in Massachusetts that have already banned plastic. There have been no unintended consequences in Cambridge or anywhere else. No higher costs. Just reduced litter and waste.

Carol formerly Chilmark

Most of the towns where I now live & shop in the east SF Bay Area have bans. It works fine; no big deal, you just toss your reusable totes back in the car when they're unloaded. (They're easier to carry, too; easier on the wrists). I'm glad the Vineyard is finally catching up.

Robert Skydell Chilmark

Several important issues are not addressed in your critique. I see a danger in merely accepting single-use bags as a fact of life. Charging a nominal fee for them may discourage some from using them but will not have a significant affect in diminishing their use. It certainly won't make them decompose any faster once they are introduced into the environment. A paradigm shift towards a reusable shopping tote/bag can easily replace single use bags.
Thirty years ago single-use bags were unknown in India. Today there are over 1,000 factories in India manufacturing them! Plastic trash simply didn't exist in India, Africa and most of the third world. Today the same countries are choking on it with grave environmental results, but they are also moving to eliminate them throughout several countries. In Nicaragua, I always take a shopping bag made from recycled rice sacks to the local market. They cost next to nothing and are indestructible. Sadly, the US thinks that their craving and entitlement for convenience trumps everything else including the environment we live in. The fallout from the throwaway culture is becoming all too obvious when people simply can't imagine how they will survive without producing more and more trash.

Constance Messmer Chilmark

I too think it funny that you don't state your name. I encourage you to watch Plastic Paradise, use If You Care biodegradable bags for your trash, and do your research on other non-plastic appropriate carry-all bags for all of your stated needs. Your arguments that plastic is a viable option are outdated and are also a little suspect...

Astrid Tilton Vineyard Haven

While discussing our goals for the bylaw, we were very concerned with the possibility of this happening. We are hoping to address this issue by engaging island business owners in the conversation and educating the general public.

Astrid Tilton Vineyard Haven

For these everyday re-uses there are infinite options besides plastic bags.
Yes, it is possible for people to buy heavier bags instead of using thin plastic bags. However, you also expressed that fees for plastic checkout bags would be a possible solution. “Forcing” people to buy plastic bags is similar to imposing a fee. It has the potential to make people more aware of the amount of plastic products they are consuming. This ban is not short-sighted. We are looking far into the future and deciding what type of long-term effect we will have on the world. This bylaw does not have to cost people more money. The cost of shipping waste off the island will decrease. You’re completely correct that the solution is not simply switching to paper bags. It’s an improvement, but the ultimate goal is not “use paper”. I hope that this ban will make us all more aware of any material or resource we use. In determining which type of bag uses more raw materials, more resources in manufacturing, and more energy to transport it is not accurate to compare one single-use plastic bag with one reusable bag. Instead we should be comparing one reusable bag with the hundreds of plastic bags it replaces.

Astrid Tilton Vineyard Haven

Yes to less oil wells, less hydrofracking, and less plastic particles in the environment! Yes to healthier animals (when they're not eating plastic or getting tangled in it)! Yes to our own health (when we're not exposed to toxins associated with plastic manufacturing and degradation of plastic products)! Yes to stores saving money when customers bring their own bags! Yes to human ingenuity for so easily finding replacements for plastic bags!

Josh Baker Tuscola, Texas

Well dad, you'll stay nice and busy. I know we were used to recycling after being stationed in California, Japan, and England. Here in Texas, there is no recycling. They do NOT care about that at all. It would be weird to be without plastic bags, but I know people could make adjustments. I remember an old TV commercial back in the 80's. I can't remember who it was, but for every tree that they cut down, they'd plant too more. That's pretty cool.

Josh Baker Tuscola, Texas

Fara and I have been bringing our own reusable tote bags with us when we go shopping for many years. That practice started in England as you have to pay 5 pence (approximately 10 cents) per plastic bag from the store if you didn't use your own bags. Reading into this more, getting rid of plastic grocery bags would be no big deal AT ALL to us.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/01/2015 - 13:04

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Ken Edg.

Sorry, plastic bags are healthier. Ill not put food in an old moldy reusable bag. Ill be voting no. Thanks.

Carla Edgartown

You can always wash the reusable bag. It doesn't have to get moldy. I throw mine in the washing machine and they come out nice and clean.

Astrid Tilton Vineyard Haven

Health is a legitimate concern, and a major reason we are proposing this bylaw in the first place. Toxins from plastic as well as mold are both important to be aware of. Definitely choose a reusable bag that you can wash easily.

The bylaw does not regulate bags for produce or deli products such as meat or cheese. It's not absolutely necessary for food to be in direct contact with a reusable grocery bag. You will still be able to handle food in a way that you're comfortable with. The only bags that this bylaw would regulate are plastic bags given to customers during checkout.

Ken Edgartown

There is an art to proper bagging. The meat is seperate. Cleaners are put into another bag, while packaged foods also get their own bag. Combining them in a reusable bag makes me cringe. Im already saving my bags.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/01/2015 - 13:54

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OB Crew Oak Bluffs

You better watch out, next week they are pushing to ban all red meat, and anything that has to be thrown in the garbage. The week after that, they will all trying out what its like to be a wican, so all bags that cant be used in animal sacrifice will be banned. Next, your SUV is banned because they think it uses too much gas. After that, all plastic as well... because it has, BPA, or BPB, or whatever the next thing is.

So stock up now in plastic trash bags now, because all this ban wil accomplish is that you now dont get free can liners.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/01/2015 - 15:05

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David Welch Katama

Can we also do balloons? Scattered on our beaches. Bags and balloons. It's shameful.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/01/2015 - 21:01

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Heather Tilton Vineyard Haven

This is long overdue. Pass the torch. Use a reusable tote bag to shop.Maybe after that we can buy shampoo in bulk with reusable containers. We as Americans need to stop using single use convince utencils too. There is no easier way to show our power than through how we choose to act as consumers.The world would notice!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 12/01/2015 - 21:52

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BS Oak Bluffs

The world is collapsing around us and we're worried about plastic bags.

David Welch Katama

That's certainly a hyperbolic statement. Please remember the old adage "Think globally, act locally." This ban could be good thing for Edgartown.

Astrid Tilton Vineyard Haven

Actually, I've thought a lot about this particular question. One solution is to save plastic produce bags or bread bags (also great for transporting sandwiches). Those bags are easy to rinse/wash, but you don't really need to if you're just cleaning up after your dog. Another simple solution would be to use the dog poop bags that are available at many public trails and beaches.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 12/03/2015 - 08:06

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Bill West Tisbury

Can we ban the use of Styrofoam coffee cups as well ?

Mark Portland Oregon

This is a HUGE issue with me. I won't frequent places that use Styrofoam. There are a multitude of better options. One of my guilty pleasures was going to Dunkin' when i would come back to Mass for business, can't do it anymore. They are behind the times (at least they were a year ago). Refillable mugs and paper cups are the way to go

Astrid Tilton Vineyard Haven

Wow! It's pretty cool that you would bring that up. A surprising number of towns and cities across the U.S. including Amherst, Brookline, Nantucket, New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Portland OR, have banned polystyrene (styrofoam) containers. They're also banned in the entire state of Maine and some countries, including Haiti and Guyana. [http://www.surfrider.org/pages/polystyrene-ordinances]

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