HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3591        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 992

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Smitty Pignatelli

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act reducing plastic bag pollution.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3591        FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 992

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act reducing plastic bag pollution.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. The General Laws are hereby amended by inserting after chapter 21O, the following chapter:

CHAPTER 21P.

PLASTIC BAG REDUCTION

Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

“Department”, the department of environmental protection.

“Postconsumer recycled material”, material used in a recycled paper bag that would otherwise be destined for solid waste disposal having completed its intended end use and product life cycle, and does not comprise any material or byproduct generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing and fabrication process.

“Recycled paper bag”, a paper bag that (i) is 100 per cent recyclable, (ii) contains a minimum of 40 per cent postconsumer recycled materials, provided, however, that an 8 pound or smaller paper bag shall contain a minimum of 20 per cent postconsumer recycled material, and (iii) displays on the outside of the bag, the words "100% Recyclable" and “40 % postconsumer recycled content", or such other per cent of postconsumer recycled material content as required under clause (ii), or other standard established by department regulation.

“Retail establishment”, any store or premises engaged in the retail business of selling or providing merchandise, goods, groceries, prepared take-out food and beverages for consumption off-premises, or the servicing of an item, directly to customers at such store or premises, including but not limited to, grocery stores, department stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, restaurants, coffee shops, and seasonal and temporary businesses, such as farmers markets and public markets, provided the use of a food truck or other motor vehicle, mobile canteen, trailer, market pushcart, moveable roadside stand, used to engage in such business directly with customers, shall be considered a “retail establishment” for the purpose of this definition.

A non-profit organization, charity or religious institution that has a retail establishment and holds itself out to the public as engaging in retail activities that are characteristic of similar type retail businesses, whether or not for profit, shall when engaging in such activity, be considered a “retail establishment”.

“Reusable carryout bag”, a bag with handles made of washable, cloth, hemp, or other fibers, fabrics or materials, or combination thereof, that is designed and manufactured specifically for multiple uses, which meets the standards established by department regulation.

“Serviced”, or “Servicing”, A service performed to clean, repair, improve, refinish or alter an item of a customer by a retail business that provides such services, including but not limited to, dry cleaning and tailoring articles of clothing, jewelry repair, and shoe and leather repair.

“Single-use plastic carryout bag”, a plastic film-type bag with or without handles provided by a retail establishment to customers at its business location to carry items purchased or serviced, and is not a recycled paper bag or reusable carryout bag.

Section 2. (a) Except as provided in this chapter, a retail establishment shall not provide a customer with a single-use plastic carryout bag or provide any other carryout bag that is not a recycled paper bag, or reusable carryout bag for the customer to carry away an item purchased or serviced, from the retail establishment.

(b) A retail establishment when delivering prepared food, or other food item, directly to a customer at a place other than the location of such establishment, shall be subject to the prohibition in subsection (a).

(c) The prohibition in subsection (a), shall not apply to any type of bag, used by a retail establishment, or provided to its customer for: (1) prescription medications, (2) produce, meats, poultry, fish, bread, and other food items to keep such items fresh or unsoiled, (3) preventing frozen food items, including ice cream, from thawing, (4) containing products or items that are saturated, wet, prone to leak, or need to be immersed in a liquid. (5) containing products or items that are granular, powdery, dirty or greasy, (6) protecting an item from damage or contamination, or to protect a second item when both are carried together from the retail establishment, (7) protecting articles of clothing on a hanger, (8) items that contain any herbicide, pesticide, solvent, corrosive, automotive type fluid or other chemical, that can be harmful to public health, whether or not, the item is prepackaged in a sealed container or bag, (9) protecting small items from loss, and (10) any item that requires the use of a certain type bag, under federal and state laws and regulations.

(d) A retail establishment may charge a fee for a recycled paper bag, reusable carryout bag, or other type of carryout bag approved by department regulation under section 4. The retail business establishment shall retain any collected fees.

(e) Notwithstanding the prohibition in subsection (a), a customer shall not be prohibited under said subsection, from bringing a clean personal bag, made or comprised of any material, to the retail establishment to carry out items purchased or serviced from such establishment.

(f) Notwithstanding the prohibition in subsection (a), a retail establishment shall not be prohibited under said subsection, from selling, or offering for sale, to customers:

(1) Any package containing several bags, including but not limited to, food bags, sandwich bags, yard waste bags, garbage bags, or municipal pay-as-you-throw program trash bags;

(2) Any product, merchandise, or good with a protective bag, or a bag to hold related accessories, parts, and instruction manuals, or a bag used as product packaging, that the retail establishment received with such item or product, from the manufacturer, distributor or vendor; or

(3) Any bag that is not a retail type carryout bag, which is sold, or offered for sale, as a product or merchandise, including but not limited to, sports bags, handbags, equipment bags, tent bags, or other bags specifically designed to protect or contain a particular item.

(g) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter, a nonprofit organization, charity, or religious institution, shall be exempt from the provisions of subsection (a), when providing or distributing, prepared foods, groceries, or articles of clothing directly to those in need, including the elderly.

Section 3. (a) The department shall enforce this chapter, and a city or town, through its enforcing authority as determined under subparagraph (d), shall enforce this chapter in such city or town.

(b) A retail establishment that violates the provisions of this chapter shall be subject a warning for the first violation; a $50 civil penalty for a second violation; and a $100 civil penalty for a third, or subsequent violation. Each day a retail establishment is in violation of this chapter shall be considered a separate violation.

Each city or town, and the department, shall dispose of a civil violation under this subsection by the non-criminal method of disposition procedures contained in section 21D of chapter 40, without an enabling ordinance or by law, or by the equivalent of these procedures by the department under its regulations.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b), a city or town may establish increased civil penalties for violations occurring within the municipality. In a city or town having an ordinance or by-law that imposes a civil fine that is greater than the civil fine imposed for a violation under subsection (b), the ordinance or by-law shall prevail over the prescribed penalty under said subsection.

(d) A city or town shall determine the municipal board, department, or official responsible for the local enforcement of this chapter and for the collection of monies resulting from civil penalties assessed for violations of this chapter. A city or town shall retain any civil penalties it collects for such violations.

(e) The department shall enforce the provisions of this chapter and may assess additional civil administrative penalties when a retail establishment repeatedly violates the provision of this chapter or related department regulation.

Section 4. The department shall adopt regulations, and may amend such regulations, to implement, enforce, and administer this chapter, consistent with the provisions of this chapter.

The department shall establish standards for reusable carryout bags, including but not limited to, the minimum amount of weight and number of uses required of a reusable carryout bag, and the minimum amount of any recycled material required in certain types reusable carryout bags.

To further advance the use of non-plastic type carryout bags and reduce waste, as necessary the department by regulation may, (i) increase or adjust the postconsumer recycled material percentage in a recycled paper bag, and (ii) allow a retail establishment to use other non-plastic type carryout bags, that are recyclable or compostable, including carryout bags composed of a plant material, in addition to allowed recycled paper bags and reusable carryout bags under subsection (a), provided the department by regulation, establishes standards for the allowed use of such bag.

When adopting or amending any standard for an allowed carryout bag under this chapter, the department shall consult with the department of public health relating to issues of food safety regarding the materials used in such bag.

Section 5. Nothing in this chapter shall prevent a political subdivision of the commonwealth from imposing restrictions on the use, sale or distributions of carryout bags by a retail establishment or other entity in addition to the provisions of this chapter.  Where such additional regulations of a political subdivision undermine the provisions of this chapter or regulations adopted by the department, such additional regulations shall be null and void.

SECTION 2. Section 1 shall take effect 1 year after passage of this act.