NEW BEDFORD — If you miss hefting your groceries and sundries home in plastic bags, you may be in luck.
City councilors voted 8-2 to repeal the city’s ban on single-use plastic bags for retail sales in Thursday night’s regular meeting.
Another full council vote in favor will signal ratification.
However, Mayor Jon Mitchell has said he would veto such a repeal vote.
But, the council can override the veto with an eight-vote supermajority, which it has at present.
Councilors Shane Burgo and Joseph Lopes voted against the repeal Thursday. Councilor Shawn Oliver was unable to attend the meeting Thursday, and didn’t cast a vote.
The ban was approved in 2020, implemented in 2022
The plastic bags are defined as being “a plastic film-type bag with or without handles, which is 4 mils thick or less, provided at the point of sale to customers at a business location.”
The council approved the ban in 2020. It applies to retailers that are at least 10,000 square feet in size or to retailers with two or more New Bedford locations totaling 10,000 square feet or larger.
It applies to retail stores, restaurants, pharmacies, convenience and grocery stores, liquor stores, as well as seasonal and temporary businesses.
The ban was implemented in early 2022, with stores being allowed six months to phase out plastic bags in stock.
There are fines for non-compliance – $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second and $300 for third and subsequent offenses.
Councilor Brian Gomes made initial proposal to repeal ban
Councilor Brian Gomes made the initial proposal to repeal the ban.
He said he wanted to suspend it so a better plan could be devised.
Gomes said during an earlier committee session that residents, particularly the elderly, had trouble with the paper bags.
Gomes added the ban also didn’t address other sources of trash, like Styrofoam cups
It’s also difficult to enforce, he said.
Is a statewide ban being contemplated?
Councilors passed a related motion Thursday to ask the city’s state legislators whether there was any bills in the works to ban their use statewide.
Councilor Linda Morad said during committee session that such a ban to protect the environment should be enacted on a statewide basis, or at least regionally, to be effective.