Danvers Town Meeting Bans Plastic Shopping Bags

DANVERS, MA -- The town joined more than 65 other Massachusetts municipalities that have banned plastic shopping bags. Town Meeting approved the new bylaw Monday night. The new rules go into effect January 1, 2019.

Under the new rules, stores would no longer be able to distribute single-use, disposable plastic bags. Exceptions would be made for bags used produce, dry-cleaning and newspapers. The goal is to encourage shoppers to bring reusable bags to store and, failing that, use paper bags that are more likely to be properly recycled.

The Massachusetts legislature is considering a statewide ban on plastic shopping bags. That law, if passed, could go into effect as early as this summer, thereby superseding local laws like the one passed Monday in Danvers.

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

Patch file photo.