In early 2018, the Select Board unanimously approved a policy that requested stores of over 3,500 square feet in size to voluntarily discontinue providing single-use plastic shopping bags to customers. We were grateful that the stores complied with the policy. However, over time, some of these large retailers in Needham shifted back to either using the thin single-use plastic bag or began offering thicker bags.
In an effort to force stores to stop offering plastic bags at checkout, the Plastic Waste Reduction team has drafted a bylaw to ban plastic bags in town. Our hope is that the town will pass this important bylaw in May, 2023.
