1/13/2016 ENVIRONMENTAL OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE Minutes

Home Browse Search

Environmental Oversight Committee Minutes January 13,2016 Present: Michael Talbot, Dale McKay,Richard York,Joseph Cummings Absent: Andrew McManus,Andrew Gottlieb Attendees: Katelyn Cadoret,Assistant Conservation Agent Meeting Called to Order by Chairman Talbot at 6:50 p.m. Mashpee Town Hall, Ockway Bay Meeting Room MINUTES: December 9,2015: The minutes were deferred to the next meeting. COMMUNICATIONS NEW BUSINESS Town-wide Bylaw on Single-Use Plastic Bags: At the last meeting,the EOC voted unanimously to pursue moving forward with a bylaw proposed to restrict single-use plastic bags in the Town of Mashpee. Currently, six Cape towns and 16 towns within the Commonwealth have developed ordinances to restrict the use of single- use plastic bags. Assistant Conservation Agent Katelyn Cadoret took on this initiative and compiled data and examples of bylaws relative to single-use plastic bag reduction. To date,the Towns of Provincetown, Wellfleet,Harwich, Falmouth,Barnstable and Nantucket have adopted ordinances relative to the use and disposition of single-use plastic bags which have significant impacts on the marine and land environment. Members of the EOC reviewed the Provincetown Single-Use Plastic Bag Reduction Bylaw. It was agreed with modifications the bylaw could easily apply to Mashpee. However,it was agreed that additional ordinances would be considered. It was noted the Provincetown bylaw makes reference to the bags made of high-density and low- density polyethylene. To simplify this directive, it was determined the word"polyethylene" might suffice. In reviewing the proposed bylaw of Provincetown and the Town of Barnstable,the thickness of the check-out bags was considered. A single-use plastic bag is defined in Provincetown with a thickness of less than 1.5 mils intended for the purpose of transporting food or merchandise out of an establishment.