Question

letter say no to polythene 9 class

Answer 1

     

To the editor: 

 I support the initiative to ban single-use plastic bags in Gloucester. 

Some may argue that bags are reused for trash and dog waste but if so, the bags still end in the waste stream after only two uses. I suspect the majority of bags end as trash after one use, and a portion end up as litter. 

I hope this ban is the first step in which Gloucester shows vision and leadership in the region and perhaps in the nation by taking bold actions to reduce waste and litter and improve natural resources. This would be appropriate for a city with such great natural resources of woods, rocks and ocean.

People did fine before plastic bags, and will do so again. 

Without easy access to free bags, one quickly becomes accustomed to their own reusable bags. Banning smoking from bars and restaurants was met with an uproar several years ago, and now it almost seems outrageous that this was ever allowed. Single-use water bottles should come next.  All of this would be accompanied by a massive education campaign, and constant enforcement. It's disgusting that the people of Gloucester foul their own beaches, as I witnessed the piles of trash last week. Some outsiders may have added to it, but every time I walk by Good Harbor Beach I see nips bottles, lottery tickets, food containers and dog waste in bags strewn and I doubt it's from outsiders. Come on, city leaders, get with the program. Ban, education, enforce.