Start hoarding plastic bags now, Boston, because it鈥檚 twilight for the ubiquitous vessels. Despite expressing concerns about who will foot the bill, Mayor Marty Walsh signed a measure banning single-use bags in Boston, making the Hub the 60th community across the state to do so. In November, City Council聽voted聽unanimously in favor of the ban, which will result in a 5-cent fee for thicker bags at grocery, drug, and convenience stores.
Walsh somewhat begrudgingly ratified the measure and, according to the聽Boston Globe,聽said 鈥渋n theory, it鈥檚 great for the environment.鈥� However, the flip-side of the coin is that he said he thinks 鈥渢he cost is going to be shifted over to the consumer.鈥�
In addition to concerns about how the ban will affect lower income Bostonians, members of the industries using the bags were disappointed by the mayor鈥檚 decision. Jon Hurst, the president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, told the聽Globe聽the tax will alienate Boston鈥檚 visitors. 鈥淚magine being an out-of-state tourist and going to Faneuil Hall, Quincy Market during the holiday season and having to pay for a bag. 鈥� That just sends the wrong message.鈥�
On the other hand, environmentalists lauded the decision. In a聽December 7 letter signed by 85 community leaders, Mass Green Network, a grassroots advocacy group, wrote that not only will the ban not hurt disadvantaged communities, but because they 鈥渟uffer disproportionately from environmental degradation,鈥� lower income Bostonians stand to benefit most. After Walsh made the ban official, Brad Verter, the founder of Mass Green, said in a press release that the mayor鈥檚 signature signals 鈥淏oston is willing to make the sacrifice to do the right thing.鈥�
City Council President Michelle Wu praised the decision, which she said was 鈥渁ction for clean streets & healthy communities.鈥�
City Councilor Matt O鈥橫alley, who spearheaded the聽measure, also wrote he was 鈥済rateful鈥� for everyone鈥檚 help in making the ban a reality.
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