Amendment ID: S2397-52

Amendment 52

Single Use Bag Fees

Ms. Rausch and Ms. Edwards move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting at the end thereof the following section:-

SECTION XX. Notwithstanding chapter 43 of the general laws or any general or special law to the contrary, a town may require retail establishments to charge customers a fee for each single use carryout bag provided. For purposes of this section, the term “single use carryout bag” shall mean a bag provided to a customer to hold items purchased from or serviced by a retail establishment, including without limitation plastic bags and brown paper bags. A carryout bag does not include a bag: (i) provided by a pharmacy to a customer purchasing prescription medication; (ii) used to protect items from damaging or contaminating other purchased items placed in a recycled paper bag or a reusable grocery bag; (iii) provided to contain an unwrapped food item; (iv) used to protect articles of clothing on a hanger; (v) used to prevent frozen food items from thawing; (vi) containing products or items that are saturated, wet, prone to leak or need to be immersed in a liquid; (vii) containing products or items that are granular, powdery, dirty or greasy; or (viii) used to protect small items from loss.