Local Politics:Issues:Plastic Bag Ban

About 60 of 351 MA cities and towns have shopping bag laws, banning to a varying degree or taxing plastic bags or non-reusable shopping bags. A quick breakdown is available at BagLaws.com, a web site designed to help retailers comply with shopping bag laws. State legislation has also been proposed. Town-by-town legislative details can be found at MassGreen.org, an advocacy organization that favors plastic bag bans.

Surrounding towns with shopping bag laws include:
 * Arlington (to go in effect 4/26/17)
 * Bedford (to go in effect 3/25/17)
 * Boston (to go in effect 11/29/17)
 * Brookline (since 2012)
 * Cambridge (since 2015)
 * Wellesley (since 2016)

Arguments pro and contra can be found in the News & Editorials below.

Lexington Reports
None at this time.

Massachusetts Reports
State legislation is pending.

National & International Reports

 * The Telegraph: Plastic bag charge: the unintended consequences of the 5p deterrent, by Peter Spence (Oct 5, 2015)

2017

 * Boston Globe: Mayor Walsh signs ban on plastic bags for Boston, by John Hilliard and J.D. Capelouto (Dec 17, 2017)
 * Boston Globe: Will that be paper... or a 5-cent compostable plastic bag?, by Natasha Mascarenhas (Dec 1, 2017)
 * Boston Globe: The Argument: Should Needham ban the retail use of plastic bags? (Dec 15, 2017)
 * Yes: Robert Fernandez, Plastic Bag Ban Team chair, Green Needham Collaborative
 * No: Brian Houghton, Senior vice president, Massachusetts Food Association
 * Boston Globe: Boston is close to banning plastic bags at stores, by Milton J. Valencia (Nov 29, 2017)
 * Boston Globe: Boston City Council set to vote on plastic bag ban, by Milton J. Valencia (Nov 28, 2017)

2015

 * Boston Globe: Newton’s plastic bag ban takes effect, by Ellen Ishkanian (July 28, 2015)
 * Boston Globe: Newton aldermen pass plastic bag ban, by Ellen Ishkanian (Jan 25, 2015)

Advocacy

 * APBA - American Progressive Bag Alliance
 * MassGreen.org - Plastic Bag Legislation