06/15/2020 BOARD OF SELECTMEN Agenda Packet

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Page 31 Explanation: Plastic bottles are a by-product of the fossil fuel industry; they do not biodegrade and can last forever. Their production emits toxic waste into the air, and chemicals from plastic can leach into our beverages. After plastics are discarded, they pollute the air via incineration, contaminate groundwater through landfills, as well as harm to our oceans, beaches, roadways, and wildlife. Recycling is of little help and does n'ot eliminate or reduce our dependence on plastic.The hazardous effects of plastics are far more costly than indicated by price. They affect our. immediate and long- term well-being. The rationale for this Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban rests on the assumption that government is established to protect the welfare of the people it governs. Plastic bottles are made' of non- renewable fuels, leach chemicals into consurnables and never biodegrade. Plastic bottles impact environmental health and longevity of other species who may ingest plastics as food. The Board of Selectmen recommends approval of Article 36 by a vote of 3-2 The Finance Committee does not recommend approval of Article.36 by a vote of 3-2- Stand Alone Article Article 38 (Fin-Com Report Page 40) To see if Mashpee it I join towns across Cape Cod in an effort to respond to a shared sense of climate emergency, based on data and warning from the. scie'ntific community. Across Cape Cod, many acknowledge that climate change is a dire threat to our well-being that demands immediate a attention. Passage of the article.will indicate that the residents and government of Mashpee are committed to expeditiously reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by further reducing energy consumption as well as by supporting and instituting efforts to wisely manage our land, biodiversity., and natural resources to reduce the town's vulnerability to climate change, or take any other action thereto. Submitted by Petition -Explanation: Because of threats to our health, -safety, and economic security, Ma' shpee's communities, service organizations, government representatives, officers, and departments have already taken many leading steps toward mitigating the environmental conditions that cause decreasing biodiversity, global warming, melting ice sheets, rising sea levels, acidifying oceans, damaging storms, intensifying heat waves, and,raging fires, but CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere have already risen above the acceptable 350 ppm to 415 ppm. As a member of 350 Cape Cod, this petitioner urges Mashpee's residents, communities, elected representatives, and town employees to join in spirit and action with the residents of other Cape Cod towns to prudently facilitate this article's objectives. The-Board of Selectmen recommends approval of Article 38 by a vote of 5-0 The Finance Committee takes no Vositloq on Article 38 by a vote of 3-3 THIS CONCLUDES THE BUSINESS OF THE ANNUAL TOWN MEETING