Auburn Town Approves Plastic Bag Use Restrictions

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The special town meeting passed restrictions on use of single use plastic bags in Auburn. The meeting held in the Auburn High School auditorium Tuesday night passed the measure by a majority vote. Nearly 80 out of the 120 members attended the meeting, said Town Clerk Debra Gremo.

The bylaw aims to reduce use of single-use plastic bags by placing restrictions on their distribution by retail stores to customers. It encourages customers to bring clean personal bag, made of any material, to take out the items purchased. Also, stores are allowed to provide recycled paper bags, reusable carryout bags or other types of bio-degradable carryout bags, by charging a fee depending upon the category of the bag.

ALSO READ: Baltimore City Council Committee Votes to Amend Ban on Plastic Bags

Meantime, the bylaw exempts certain categories of plastic bags such as the ones used for prescription medicines or the bags used to carry produce, meats, poultry, fish, bread, frozen foods etc.,.

The enforcement of the ban requires approval from the attorney general’s office. The proposed ban will come into force after six months from this approval. A non-binding question on the ballot was passed by the town by a 620-381 vote in May this year, allowing it to proceed with research and development of a bylaw to restrict the use of plastic bags by stores.