WESTFIELD–In an effort help residents understand why a plastic bag ban is being drafted, a Westfield State University intern will be showing a plastic bag documentary at the college this Friday.
The documentary, titled “Bag It,” will help to explain the environmental and health impacts the plastic bags make, both locally and internationally. It will be shown at Scanlon Hall at Westfield State University on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. The event is free and the public is welcome to attend. The entirety of the event is anticipated take about an hour and a half, and will include discussion.
The film precedes an ordinance that will soon be going to city council, specifically the public health and safety committee, and is being spear-headed by Ward 1 councilor Mary Ann Babinski.
MARY ANN BABINSKI
“People can expect to hear a lot about plastics in general, and how they’re affecting our health and our children’s health and the health of the planet,” Sean Bacon, intern from Westfield State University and organizer of the event, said. “In particular, the impact that plastic bags have on all these.”
The showing of the film is the only one currently scheduled in the city, with no future showings booked. However, Babinski did say there is a possibility of another showing in January 2017.
The film will be preceding legislation that will be formally introduced to the city council’s public health and safety committee within the next month. Bacon is currently working on drafting the ordinance and all the details have not been determined. However, Bacon said that there are several key points that the ordinance will cover.
“We have decided we are going to ban the shopping bags–the ones that you carry out of the store–but we aren’t going to ban the thin produce bags or the newspaper bags or any of those thin bags that are considered essential for cleanliness or for protection,” Bacon said.
In this photo taken Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, women walk with plastic bags. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
The ordinance will also mandate a fine be levied upon stores that do not abide by the ordinance if they make over a certain level of income per year. This would be beneficial to small businesses who cannot afford to implement such a plan, as well as prevent consumers from being fined for simply having plastic bags.
Additionally, Bacon expects the ordinance to have an implementation program in place that would assist businesses in becoming compliant with the ordinance.
The ordinance is being styled after the Northampton plastic bag ban, as well as other local plastic bag ordinances in neighboring cities and towns.
