Beverly Plastic Bag Ban: What You Need To Know

BEVERLY, MA -- Beverly will join more than 80 other Massachusetts on Jan. 1 when it implements rules banning retailers from giving out single-use plastic shopping bags. Bans do not apply to plastic produce bags and other bags used to transport perishables, but you won't be getting the plastic bags that have been a staple of supermarket checkout lines for decades.

The ban extends to all retailers, including take-out restaurants. In other communities that have implemented similar bans, retailers have often charged a per-bag fee for the more expensive, recyclable or reusable paper bags as a way to encourage shoppers to bring their own bags.

To get the program jump started, the city is offering free, reusable bags to Beverly residents. You can pick them up at City Hall or the Beverly Senior Center. The Beverly Waste Reduction Committee also plans to hand out the bags at future events.

Businesses that violate the ban will get a warning for the first offense and a $50 fine for each subsequent offense.

Subscribe to Beverly Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

Patch file photo via Shutterstock.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).