By Amy Swain

The Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance was once again reviewed by the Board of Aldermen’s Legislative Matters Committee at their meeting last week.

Somerville’s Legislative Matters Committee is continuing work on the Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance. The committee met on August 20 to review details regarding the impending plan. Assistant City Solicitor Matthew J. Buckley submitted the ordinance to a full room. Members of the committee and government gathered, as well as various concerned parties, including a representative from the Surfrider Foundation, a national non-profit focused on health risks associated with environmental threats.

The topic opened with the question “Are we trying to impose an environmental behavior change here?” The answer was a resounding yes. The topics of littering and pollution were discussed, but ultimately this plan is in response to environmental troubles and the behavior contributing to those troubles that we as citizens are able to change. The aim is to assist in conserving the environment as well as our own interests, including drainage, animal life, and clean air.

One of the committee’s largest concerns, however, comes from the knowledge that they are in fact trying to impose a behavior. They are unsure about the use of the word “ban,” as they feel it could upset citizens who otherwise might agree with the terms laid out. For this reason, those involved are combing through the proposed ordinance to figure out a plan of action that will make Somerville residents comfortable.

There is currently a plan in action within the state government to implement a similar ordinance statewide. Somerville is paying close attention to the guidelines in that probable implementation, so as not to cause stress concerning future adjustments. Similarly, they are paying attention to the recently imposed plastic reduction plans enacted in Cambridge, Newton, and Brookline. While they continue to perfect the proposal, the committee will also be investigating the specific effects these reduction plans have had on the surrounding areas. Numbers as high as a 90% reduction in plastic waste were mentioned in the recent committee meeting, but have not been confirmed.

What to expect as citizens is a change at the grocery counter. Canvas bags are currently encouraged, and have been readily available in stores for years. If, or more likely when, this reduction plan is implemented, they may be more necessary. Paper bags are likely to be just as readily available as ever.

Plastic produce bags and the like will continue to be available in the appropriate sections, but handled grocery bags – those made with a thicker plastic – will no longer be at the checkout. The ordinance proposed specifies bags that are compostable only at a commercial facility as the ones to be eliminated.

This is an in-process ordinance with the goal of waste reduction. While specifics are still undetermined, those that make it in will help us as a community to reduce waste, littering, and carbon usage.