Plastic bag reduction a positive step for our environment
By GuestDear Editor:
At this year’s annual town meeting, Canton will have the opportunity to join the 100 other cities and towns in Massachusetts that have decided to eliminate thin-film single-use plastic bags at the point of sale.
Article 27 will reduce the use of plastic bags at retail and restaurant establishments in Canton. This citizen-sponsored article has the support of the Board of Selectmen, the Board of Health, and the Finance Committee, as well as the Massachusetts Sierra Club, the Neponset River Watershed Association, the Friends of the Blue Hills, and Republic Services.
The harm posed by plastic bags to our environment and to our health is well-documented. Plastic bags contribute to pollution and litter throughout Canton. Plastic bags never completely decompose. Instead, they break down into micro-plastics that enter our air and waterways, are consumed by marine life, and work their way up the food chain until they are ingested by humans in the seafood we eat. Finally, the bags that do make their way to landfills emit harmful carbon dioxide and contribute to the climate change crisis.
Recycling of plastic bags is not a viable option. The only way to properly recycle plastic bags is to return them to stores, and only about 5 percent of plastic bags are ever recycled. Too often, people mistakenly think they can recycle plastic bags in curbside recycling. This causes problems by jamming recycling machinery and increases costs, which are ultimately passed on to residents.
It is estimated that Canton residents use more than 11 million plastic bags each year. Reduction of thin-film single-use plastic bags is one step we can all take towards a greener, more sustainable and more beautiful Canton — benefitting both our residents and our businesses. For this reason, we urge all registered voters in Canton to attend annual town meeting on May 13 and vote ‘Yes’ on Article 27 to reduce the use of thin-film single-use plastic bags in Canton. For more information about the article, voters can visit sustainablecanton.com.
Sincerely,
Christine Smith on behalf of Canton Residents for a Sustainable, Equitable Future
Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=55520
Posted by Guest
on May 10 2019. Filed under From One Citizen to Another, Opinion.
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