Worcester City Plastic Bag Ban Delayed for a Second Time

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Worcester City Council has put on hold the ordinance that bans use of lightweight single-use plastic checkout bags. This is the second time the Council has delayed a vote on the proposal.

Worcester Councilor-at-Large Morris A. Bergman stated that the vote on the ordinance was denied as he has not yet received a report from the administration comparing the city ordinance with the bill before the state legislature. The bill being considered by the state legislature has got better wordings than the city ordinance, he noted.

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The ordinance will now be taken up by the City Council in its next meeting on Sept 17. Earlier in August, the ordinance was put on hold by Mayor Joseph M.Petty, citing the absence of District 1 Councilor Sean M. Rose, chair of the Municipal Operations Committee.

If approved, the ban on single-use plastic bags will take effect April 1, 2020. It has a provision that requires retail establishments to charge a minimum fee of 5 cents per bag issued to customers.