Let’s Not Move Backwards Regarding Bag Ban
To the Editor:
My spouse and I moved to Newtown in August of 2020. One of the qualities that I immediately appreciated about this area is the natural beauty of public land facilities. Andrea and I enjoy local hiking, and the absence of plastic bag trash has been notable. As former residents of Rhode Island, we don’t miss seeing plastic bags caught up in trees or by the highway or strewn along streams, often clogging storm drains.
The Pootatuck is plastic-bag free. For now.
Evidently, the Legislative Council of Newtown is considering repealing “The Reusable Checkout Bag Initiative” that protects not only the natural beauty of Newtown, but the health of its citizens. Introducing plastic bags into our local environment isn’t just an eyesore. These bags are actually a danger to human and animal life that can last millennia.
“The plastic typically used in bottles, bags and food containers contains chemical additives such as endocrine disruptors, which are associated with negative health effects including cancers, birth defects and immune system suppression in humans and wildlife.” —The Center for Biological Diversity
“It takes 1,000 years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. Unfortunately, the bags don’t break down completely but instead photo-degrade, becoming microplastics that absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment.” —ACS Sustainable Chemical Engineering
“Recent research has shown that microplastics leach these chemicals locally in human tissues, or other areas of accumulation. Some 2,400 of the 10,000 chemical additives were classified as substances of potential concern, meeting the European Union’s criteria for persistence, bioaccumulation, or toxicity.” —WebMD
Surely once the LC has all the facts about the dangers and long-term health effects of introducing these toxins into the local environment, the sheer foolishness of repealing this ordinance will become obvious. Perhaps the Council might review what is well known. The EU has banned these bags for a reason. Canada has banned these bags as well.
Let’s not move backwards.
Regards,
Chuck Wyatt
Newtown
State ban trumps the town ban. Dump the ban and free up the 10 cents per bag fee. We need every dime we can get to pay our taxes.
Having moved here from Rhode Island, perhaps you’re not aware that the state of Connecticut has banned retailers from providing plastic bags, so don’t worry–repealing Newtown’s ordinance will not change anything about the availability of plastic bags.