A petition article to ban the familiar, thin-film, single-use, plastic checkout bags, similar to the ones crumpled in the foreground, will go before Orange voters in June. Reusable checkout bags, with handles and specifically designed for multiple use made of thick plastic, is visible in the background.
A petition article to ban the familiar, thin-film, single-use, plastic checkout bags, similar to the ones crumpled in the foreground, will go before Orange voters in June. Reusable checkout bags, with handles and specifically designed for multiple use made of thick plastic, is visible in the background. Credit: Daily News Photo/Deborrah Porter

ORANGE — A petition article that will appear on the June 18 annual town meeting warrant will give voters the power to ban certain plastic bags in town.

Signed by 12 registered voters, the petition seeks support for a bylaw to reduce thin-film, single-use, plastic check-out bags at all retail and grocery stores in town. These bags typically have plastic handles and are intended for single-use transport of purchased products.

The petitioners are seeking a similar ban put in place by Athol voters.

Selectmen briefly discussed the article, noting it is a general bylaw, not a zoning bylaw, and it will pertain to businesses in the entire town. They also noted that because it is a petition article, the board has no say in whether it will appear on the warrant.

“I think it’s great. I hope it passes,” said Selectboard Chairman Ryan Mailloux.

According to Massgreen.org, there are a number of decision points in crafting local legislation to ban plastic bags, including the thickness of the bag. Orange seeks to bar bags of a thickness of 2.5 mils or less from all retail and grocery stores in town, including pharmacies, liquor stores, mini marts and retail vendors selling clothing, food and household or personal items.

The petition article states that thin film plastic bags used to contain dry cleaning, newspapers, produce, meat, bulk foods, wet items and other similar merchandise, typically without handles, will still be permitted.

The petition argues the production and use of thin-film single-use plastic checkout bags have significant impacts on the environment, including contributing to the death of aquatic animals and other wildlife through ingestion and entanglement; contributing to pollution of the land environment; creating a burden to solid waste collection and recycling facilities; clogging storm drainage systems; and requiring the use of millions of barrels of crude oil nationally for their production.

The article would also establish the following fines for violations of the bylaw: first offense would bring a warning; second offense, a $25 fine; third and subsequent offenses, a $50 fine each time. Enforcement of the bylaw would be the responsibility of the town administrator or his or her designee.