Swampscott Single-Use Plastic Restrictions Approved At Town Meeting

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott's proposed bylaw restricting the types of single-use plastic containers and utensils allowed by businesses and organizations offering prepared foods will go into effect in June after passing by unanimous vote at Monday's special town meeting.

The bylaw will restrict the types of plastic containers allowed for use, require that businesses and organizations offer single-use condiment containers and utensils by request only, and create a public information campaign that warns residents against reheating food in plastic containers.

Under the bylaw, highly recyclable and compostable plastics will still be allowed for restaurant or organization use.

The bylaw will not apply to pre-packaged food items but will apply to items prepared for sale or consumption at all venues — including schools, farmer's markets, churches, food trucks and catered events.

Under the bylaw, the Board of Health will be granted the authority to make alterations in the bylaw due to changing circumstances involving supply chains, industry practices in the case of public emergencies.

"Our focus and our task became a highly targeted policy best suited for Swampscott," Solid Waste Advisory Committee Chair Wayne Spritz told town meeting members on Monday. "This bylaw is not what some might consider virtue signaling and it's not a bylaw that's meant to be plastic-phobic. It's a bylaw about being plastic-responsible and plastic-sustainable."

Spritz said as part of the outreach to town businesses and vendors there was "not a lot of negative feedback" on the proposal and that the impact on businesses "will not be unreasonable."

"We appreciate that there are some who think that this doesn't go far enough," he said. "And there are also some who think it goes too far. We think we've struck the right balance to be effective."

Businesses will be able to apply for short-term exemptions under the bylaw but the six-month lead time is meant to allow them to use up their current supply and make arrangements to either eliminate the plastics or switch to more sustainable ones before the bylaw takes effect.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)