Paper or plastic? Natick man pushing to have plastic bag ban repealed

NATICK, Mass. — More than 80 cities and towns across Massachusetts have banned plastic grocery bags to reduce litter and pollution, but some believe the regulations are a waste themselves.

In Natick, where a plastic bag ban has been in place for a year, longtime resident Brent Longtin is pushing to have the ban repealed.

"The number of bags that would go free into the environment is probably very small," Longtin said.

Longtin, who has lived in Natick for 25 years, is letting his opinions be known to local leaders.

"People do not use reusable bags by in large, what they do is they use the paper bags and paper,” he said

He said plastic bags cost consumers, points out that people rarely recycle plastic bags even though they can be, and that government leaders are passing bans without comprehensive research.

"It is trending and I think it is trending because the people are not being informed about the cost of these bans and whether or not there's a need for them," Longtin said.

Longtin wants all the bans abolished.

State Rep. David Linsky, whose district includes Natick, told Boston 25 News that we "owe it to future generations" to reduce waste.

“I’m interested in finding a statewide solution that doesn’t increase costs to consumers and workers to protect the environment," Linsky said.

Linsky says legislation has been proposed to created statewide plastic bag regulations as they vary from town to town, and he expects that to be reintroduced next session.

In a statement, the Retailers Association of Massachusetts said, "We believe consumers can and should be able to make the determination on their own on what bags they may want to use rather than having elected officials make those decisions on their own.”

Cox Media Group