Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Lawmakers, advocates push sweeping plastics reduction bills including statewide bag and polystyrene limits
Summary
Lawmakers and dozens of environmental groups urged the joint committee to advance an omnibus plastics reduction package that would ban or restrict single‑use plastic bags, polystyrene foodware and small plastic beverage containers, set fees to drive reuse, and fund recycling and environmental justice programs.
The Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources heard broad testimony urging passage of a suite of bills to limit single‑use plastics and create a framework for reduction and reuse across Massachusetts.
Sen. Becca Rausch, co‑sponsor of the Plastics Reduction Act, told the committee the bill would create statewide consistency on single‑use plastics, “codify Governor Healey’s executive order with regard to plastic beverage bottles,” and create an environmental protection trust fund to direct penalties and fees toward environmental‑justice populations, low‑income residents and small business transition support.
Advocates described public‑health and environmental harms tied to plastics and…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
