Newton Votes to Ban Plastic Bags

Media Contacts
Ben Hellerstein

Former State Director, Environment Massachusetts

Environment Massachusetts

The Newton Board of Aldermen voted unanimously this week to ban most retail uses of single use plastic bags. Newton is the 9th municipality in the Commonwealth to do so.

“Newton’s important action shows once again that local communities can win lasting victories for the ocean and our environmental health,” said Ben Hellerstein campaign organizer with Environment Massachusetts. “We continue to build more and more momentum to keep plastic out of the Atlantic and our rivers and streams

Disposable plastic bags are one of the most common forms of litter found in beach cleanups along the Massachusetts shoreline, and they are one of the most harmful items to ocean wildlife, killing hundreds of thousands of marine animals each year. Environment Massachusetts’ report “Top Ten Facts about Plastic Bags in the Ocean” documents the harm that plastic bags can do to ocean wildlife, including the endangered leatherback sea turtles that summer in Massachusetts Bay. 85 percent of sea turtles are injured or killed by plastic bags in their lifetimes.

“Environment Massachusetts applauds Newton’s leadership,” added Hellerstein. “We hope the rest of the state will soon follow Newton’s lead to protect our ocean from this destructive trash. Nothing we use for a few minutes should pollute the ocean for thousands of years.”