Needham has an opportunity to join about 30 other Massachusetts communities, including our neighbors Newton and Wellesley, in implementing a ban on single-use plastic bags. This effort was initiated by a team of seniors last year as a capstone project for the Greater Boston Project, a double-credit interdisciplinary elective at Needham High School.
The team was led by Chris Thomas, who along with several others were so committed to the project that they continued work past their June graduation. They met with individuals, groups, businesses and town officials in Needham and in nearby communities, including Green Needham. They did extensive research to address questions and concerns raised by the stakeholders they talked to. They gathered signatures of support online and in person (including many who stopped by the Green Needham table during two Street Fair events in the last year). The students did a thorough job of research and built a persuasive case.
A proposal developed by the students is now pending before the Board of Selectmen. The proposal contains language for a warrant article and a request to the Selectmen to place the article on the 2017 May Annual Town Meeting warrant. Green Needham is pleased to lend our support and energy to this very worthwhile project. A team of volunteers has assembled to:
- identify and provide informational support to individuals and groups who wish to contact the Selectmen and encourage them to vote to support the warrant article at the May Annual Town Meeting. We do not want to overwhelm the Selectmen with generic e-mails. Individual outreach from residents and organizations communicating their support in their own words is much more effective (and respectful of everyone’s time).
- reach out and engage with Town Meeting members to educate, inform and answer questions in advance of Town Meeting, should the Selectmen vote to put the article on the warrant.
Please visit the Plastic Bag Ban page for more information on the environmental and economic case against plastic bags and the effort underway here in Needham. Additional information, including an FAQ, will be added shortly.
If you would like to help in any way with this project, please contact Rob Fernandez.
