SOUTH HADLEY – After failing to pass at a Special Town Meeting, voters will now have their say on a proposed plastic bag ban.
The Select Board unanimously voted to put a nonbinding question on the ballot for the Annual Town Election in April.
Voters will be asked: “Would you be in favor of banning plastic die-cut bags commonly used by retailers in favor of allowing only reusable, compostable or bio-degradable bags?”
Little discussion was had over the question as Select Board member Ira Brezinsky told board members and town residents the evening’s discussion was only about whether to place the question on the ballot, not whether they support it or if it would pass.
If the measure were to pass, it would still need to go before Town Meeting to enact a change in the town’s bylaws.
At the special Town Meeting in January, Brezinsky as well as other Town Meeting members expressed their desire to see the bag ban go to a townwide vote rather than the representative Town Meeting.
At the time, Town Meeting Member Michael Fisher, precinct D, called the ban “undemocratic.” He argued that in Amherst and Northampton, where similar bans have been adopted, a small group of people voted to prevent thousands of their fellow citizens from making a choice about their grocery bags.
The proposed ban failed, with 39 votes in support of the ban to 52 against.
The ban, presented at the special Town Meeting, did not include thin-film plastic bags used to contain dry cleaning, newspapers, produce, meat, or bulk foods. Nor does it include any flexible transparent covering for uncooked or raw meat, poultry, raw fish, hard cheese, cold cuts, fruit and vegetable products, baked goods or bread. It was brought forth by a joint effort from the town’s Department of Health and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee chairperson as well as the Select Board.
Emily Cutts can be reached at ecutts@gazettenet.com.