Hey, there! Log in / Register
Boston allows return of lightweight plastic bags
By adamg on Wed, 03/25/2020 - 9:37am
Mayor Walsh yesterday signed an executive order that lets Boston stores return to those flimsy plastic bags for the duration of the current state of emergency. The order also waives the fee stores normally charge customers for store-provided bags.
Unlike a similar measure in Cambridge, the order does not explicitly ban reusable bags. However, Roche Bros. announced Monday it is banning reusable bags to try to protect its workers.
In a statement, Walsh said:
During this challenging time, we understand the retail establishments our residents rely on -- like grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants - need added flexibility to best serve their customers.
Neighborhoods:
Topics:
Free tagging:
Ad:
Support Universal Hub
Help keep Universal Hub going. If you like what we're up to and want to help out, please consider a (completely non-deductible) contribution.
Comments
The technical name for said
The technical name for said bags is "t-shirt bags"
Workers in many Amazon
Workers in many Amazon fulfillment centers in many other states tested positive for covid19 ,
The general public uses Amazon prime to have groceries delivered to homes across the Boston area .
Great. Something good comes
Great. Something good comes from all this.
This can work, too
Bring your own reusable bags but leave them in the car. In the store, put the groceries in your cart, unbagged. Then wheel them out to your car and bag them there for easy transport into your house.
Obviously not for everyone (transit users and walkers especially) but it would work for many shoppers.
Where...
Are the supermarkets supposed to get those flimsy, single-use bags?
Just like the styrofoam in Brookline restaurants, it's extremely unreasonable for the city/town to essentially just flip a switch and expect products that were banned as of yesterday to suddenly appear and be available to consumers. In fact, it's as unreasonable as Trump's expectation that domestic producers would immediately start offering huge volumes of masks and ventilators upon his proclamation.
Good
Disposable plastic bag bans are unequivocally stupid.
They are of the most re-used items on the planet, and study after study shows the fallout from the ban is far worse in regards to plastic waste production, never-mind food born illness incidence, as this is now even more of a concern.
Bags and straws aren't the things ruining the ocean, and some of the worst kind of "let's pretend we are helping" policy bs this side of big blue bins for all-in-one recycling that's pretty much ruined actual recycling in most cities due to contamination.