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Somerville shoppers have been making the adjustment as they come to grips with the new ordinance prohibiting the use of plastic bags to carry home their goods.
By Amy Swain
The city’s ban on plastic bags has officially begun. As of September 1, most retailers are no longer allowed to distribute the bags at checkout counters, pursuant to legislation passed last year. Some smaller businesses will be given until December to phase out their use of plastic.
Reactions to the regulation vary, but the most popular by far is a begrudging acceptance that it will benefit the city. David Showalter, a lifetime Somerville resident and cashier at Stop and Shop, had this to say: “It has caused transactions to take longer. There have been many frustrated customers, and taking the time to explain the legislation holds up lines. It also takes slightly longer to bag purchases. At the same time, I must congratulate Somerville for taking steps like these toward a greener future.” Others expressing similar concern weren’t as eloquent, “It’s a nuisance. A pain in the ass. But I guess it’s what’s right.”
There were some who appreciated the silver linings. Cambridge’s bag policy requires any bag given, whether paper or plastic, to come at a charge of ten cents. Somerville does not have that requirement, and so many places will provide paper bags free of charge. However, stores are going through paper bags more quickly, as shoppers are fearful of breakage. As bag expenses rise, it is not out of the question, but for now is something consumers can appreciate.
A main component to discomfort with the new policy is preparation. Complaints such as “What about if I forget my bags? Go home? Or back out to the car, after I’m in the checkout line?” “What if I don’t bring enough bags?” These concerns are legitimate, but seem to be a measure of routine. Now that this is policy, perhaps considering one’s own bags will become more routine. As one shopper put it, “People adjust.”
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There have been some comments on this issue that I agree with, mainly that in the end it won’t make as much of a difference as it hopes to do.
Unless this ban is nationwide, or even statewide, it’s not going to prevent anyone from shopping outside the city and bringing bags in anyway. I normally shop outside of Somerville, so this really won’t affect me, as I’m also sure it won’t those who shop outside the city or on the way home from work.
I am all for environmental improvements, but unless this is done everywhere, it will only impact the businesses and people who shop in Somerville and Cambridge, and nowhere else. There will still be plastic bags around, just as there is styrofoam.
It would have made more sense to include recycling of plastic bags by the city, so that every plastic bag could be disposed of if it isn’t reused.
Some supermarkets offer bins for plastic bag dropoff, so it’s not something that can’t be done. I’ve often brought a load of produce and shopping bags to a store recycling dropoff. It costs customers nothing.
Once again the city chooses to pass the burden to others rather than make things easier for them, all the while claiming to be doing something good.
Yes, we will likely get used to it. But in the long run it won’t make the kind of impact they claim it will, only help them save money to line their own pockets.
It’s nice to see sensible attitudes being expressed here by these shoppers. It’s hard for certain personality types to accept the inevitable, obviously. But when the benefits are so clear and denial of them so harmful it’s difficult to understand why the crybabies persist in putting up a fuss. Takes all kinds I guess.
I hope the plastic bag fairy, angered by our rejection of plastic shopping bags, brings plastic bags from Everett or Medford and sprinkles them over our fair city. The plastic bag fairy comes at night and will leave bags in trees, bushes, and other hiding places. You may think its litter, but its actually the plastic bag fairy whose wrath we’ve incurred by provoking her.