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In May of 2019, the Somerville City Council passed an ordinance banning the use of plastic straws and/or stirrers in all food and retail establishments within the City of Somerville. This ordinance went into effect on February 9, 2020; however, during the first six months, only warnings will be issued to give businesses a chance to substitute alternative products.
This ordinance is the latest step that the City of Somerville has taken to protect the marine environment, advance solid waste reduction, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect waterways. To date, the City of Somerville has also enacted plastic bag bans and Styrofoam bans toward the same goals.
Under this ordinance, retail establishments will no longer be permitted to offer customers plastic, single-use plastic straws or stirrers at the point-of-purchase or at self-serve food or beverage stations, unless a specific request is made by a customer.
If retailers or restaurants do plan to provide plastic straws or stirrers, upon request only, they must also post a printed sign in any area where other single-use items, such as utensils, are provided. If a retail establishment is found to be non-compliant with this ordinance, the first violation will result in a warning. Subsequent violations will carry a fine.
More information on the ordinance is available on the city’s website at https://www.somervillema.gov/plasticstraws. If you have questions regarding enforcement of this ordinance or other regulations, please contact the Inspectional Services Department, Health Division at (617) 625-6600 x4331.
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I think that it’s great that things like this are finally happening, but unless it’s nationally adopted, it’s not going to do much good. I still get plastic bags all the time in New Hampshire.
Not only that, but it’s going to take a long time to phase all of this out, and meanwhile the environment is still suffering.
What we need is a way to utilize these plastics so that they are no longer being tossed out and harming the environment. What about a way to incorporate plastics like this into building materials? If we can use them in ways where they won’t be thrown away, it will mitigate some of the harm while still gradually phasing them out of disposable items.
I’m all for protecting the environment, but just deciding to stop using something while everyone else is still using it doesn’t go very far to doing what we really need done right now. If we can at least find a new way to recycle these plastics instead of throwing them away, it will create a use for them instead of just throwing them out, or waiting for them to stop being used entirely.
Just throw some reusable metal straws in the back of your huge SUV – instant clear conscience!
Several members of the city council identified this as exceedingly trivial, then went along with it anyway. I wish they’d have actually stuck to their guns on it and passed some meaningful legislation instead.
Another predictably dumb remark brought to you by the hopelessly clueless right.