Zero Waste Boston Coalition Applauds City Council’s Unanimous Passage of the Plastic Bag Ban

For Immediate Release:

Boston, MA– Earlier today, the Boston City Council voted unanimously to ban the distribution of single use plastic shopping bags in checkout lines. The plastic bag ban will decrease litter and plastic waste that ends up in landfills and incinerators, both of which disproportionately impact communities of color and low income residents. With the passage of the plastic bag ban, Boston joins cities and countries around the world taking leadership to prevent problem plastics and waste. The Zero Waste Boston Coalition (ZWB) supports this measure and applauds its passage.

Last year, Mayor Walsh announced that the City would be undertaking a Planning Process relating to Zero Waste. ZWB considers the plastic bag ban a positive step forward as the City begins the planning process this winter. The coalition is collaborating with the Walsh administration and Zero Waste experts from around the country to ensure that the process is inclusive of public input and responsive to the needs of all residents. The coalition will continue to work to ensure that Boston adopts more policies that will reduce waste, spur local green economic innovation and offer safe and well-paying jobs to area residents from all neighborhoods.

Contacts:
Elizabeth Saunders, Clean Water Action, 617-869-3937, esaunders@cleanwater.org
Sofia Owen, Community Action Works, 617-747-4358, sofia@communityactionworks.org

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The Zero Waste Boston Coalition brings together key local and national environmental, worker and community groups in an alliance aimed at rapid and responsible expansion of Boston’s Zero waste sector. Steering Committee members include Alternatives for Community and Environment, CERO Cooperative, Clean Water Action, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health, Community Action Works and Youth On Board/Boston Student Advisory Council.