08/22/2019 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Agenda Packet

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*DRAFT#4* OCTOBER 21, 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant Explanation: This article seeks to.protect the health of its citizens and the unique natural beauty and irreplaceable natural resources of the Town of Mashpee, and given that inexpensive, safe alternatives to polystyrene are easily obtained, by phasing out the use of certain polystyrene plastics in the near future. The Board of Selectmen recommends approval of Article 5 by a vote of 4-0 The Finance Committee recommends approval of Article 5 by a vote of x-X Article 6 (Draft#4) To see if the Town will vote to amend the Mashpee General Bylaws as follows, or take any other action relating thereto: Chapter 126 Article III Single Use Plastic Straw Ban §126-14 Purpose and Findings It has been found that: 1. Plastic straws are expensive and difficult to collect or recycle, 2. Mashpee's proximity to water bodies.means that plastic straws that go uncollected by DPMI have a high chance of ending up on the beaches or in the bays or ponds within the Town. 3. Plastic straws take hundreds of years to. degrade during which ;time they remain hazardous to wildlife and harmful to the environment. 4. There is currently a national movement to reduce and ban the use of plastic straws, making reasonable affordableafternatives increasingly available. Because Mashpee has the regulatory.authority to protect the natural environment,the economy, and the health of the Town and its-citizens,this Bylaw prohibits the sale or dispensing of single use plastic straws, including those.made from polyethylene,'polypropylene, and polystyrene, by any food. establishment, retail establishment, or public venue...in the Town of Mashpee. §126-15 Definitions *Town Counsel: under§126-15 include containers that have straws attached?* "Plastic Straw" shall mean any :single use plastic straw including but not limited to those made from polyethylene, polypropylene,and.polystyrene. "Food Establishments" shall mean any operations, including without limitation schools, farmers markets and other public venues that store, prepare, package, serve, vend or otherwise provide food for human consumption. Any establishment requiring a permit to operate in accordance with the State Sanitary Code- Minimum Sanitation Standards for Food Establishments -, 105 CMR 590.000, et. seq., shall be considered Food Establishments for the purposes of this bylaw. 11