Melrose Approves Plastic Bag Ban

MELROSE, MA — Melrose has become the 61st Massachusetts community to approve a ban on disposable plastic bags as the Board of Alderman voted to adopt the ban at its Monday meeting.

Beginning July 1 (for larger retailers) and Oct. 1 (for smaller retailers) Melrose shoppers will need to bring reusable plastic bags. Businesses will no longer be providing single-use plastic bags, but may provide paper bags.

Business could receive up to a $100 fine for multiple violations of the ban.

The ordinance is one dozens of communities - most recently Boston - have adopted. The Melrose Cycling Committee said Melrose uses more than 9,000,000 plastic bags each year, only about 5 percent of which are recycled.

Photos courtesy of Mass Green Network (Jeana McNeil presents the case for reducing bag waste; Trudy Macdonald leads a discussion in a senior center)