Plastic Bag Ban ByLaw in Needham

Thanks to the efforts of Green Needham’s Plastic Waste Reduction Team, the Plastic Bag Ban Citizens’ Petition Article included in the Warrant was passed overwhelmingly at Town Meeting on May 3, 2023!

 

Development of Bylaw to End the Use of Plastic Shopping Bags in Needham

Objective:   Create a citizens’ petition that would end the use of plastic shopping bags in Needham. It would be included as an article in the May 2023 Town Meeting Warrant and voted on (and hopefully approved) by Town Meeting Members. The bylaw is being developed according to this schedule:

Timeframe	Action Item	Status
September – October 2022	Draft the bylaw and look to incorporate language from plastic bag bans passed in other towns and cities similar or adjacent to Needham.	Completed
October 2022 – January 2023	Review bylaw with relevant town officials and incorporate necessary feedback.	Completed
January 2023	Complete draft of bylaw and obtain the 10 signatures needed to be included on the Town Meeting Warrant as a citizens’ petition.	Completed
Early February 2023	Submit to the Select Board to be included as an article in the Town Meeting Warrant.	Completed
February 2023	Discuss the citizens’ petition with the Select Board.	Completed
Early April 2023	Meet with Finance Committee.	Completed
April 12, 2023	Public Hearing on bylaw article at Select Board meeting.	Completed
April 2023	Inform and educate Town Meeting Members about the plastic bag bylaw article.	Completed
May 2023	Plastic Bag Ban Citizens’ Petition Article included in the Warrant passed overwhelmingly at Town Meeting on May 3, 2023!  The ban will go into effect January 1, 2024, for large stores, and July 1, 2024 for smaller stores.	Completed

 

 

 

Example of plastic bags contaminating the Commingled Recycling bin at the Needham RTS.  Plastic bags create problems at the recycling facility, as they jam the machines and cause delays.  The workers are forced to stop the machines to untangle the plastic bags from the equipment.