Lexington has both a long history and deep commitment to sustainability and protecting the health of those who live and work in town, as well as visitors. In alignment with those commitments, a bylaw was adopted at Annual Town Meeting 2024 that restricts the sale of single-use plastic water bottles in town. The bylaw looks to curb the use of fossil fuels used to produce plastic and to limit plastic pollution of natural habitats across the globe by limiting our community’s single-use plastic consumption, in collaboration with Lexington businesses. Visit lexingtonma.gov/PlasticReduction for more information, including frequently asked questions.
Lexington’s “Plastic Use Reduction” is a manifestation of creeping “feel good” idiocy whereby some “body” ostensibly acts “for the good of the planet” by banning or restricting some labor-saving, or task-ameliorating, commercial product from being available locally.
from the official wed site:
Plastic Use Reduction
Single use materials like plastic water bottles, straws, and bags are unnecessarily detrimental to the environment. Most of these materials are not easily recyclable, so they end up polluting our environments and harming wildlife. They are also made from fossil fuel-based chemicals (petrochemicals), so the production of these materials contribute to climate change. Recognizing the harm caused by single use materials, Lexington Town Meeting has taken steps to reduce the sale and use of some of the most common items with the following bylaws…
The Plastic Bag Reduction Bylaw (2018)
Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Food Serviceware and Packaging Reduction Bylaw (2019)
Single Use Plastic Beverage Straw and Stirrer Reduction (2019)
Single-Serve Plastic Water Bottle Reduction (2024)
First of all – such a broad series of “bans” precludes taking advantage of single-use plastics which could be derived from “plant-based” sources
Secondly — unless there is a global prohibition — if the products in question are desirable they will inevitably be imported from a neighboring jurisdiction or purchased on-line and delivered to a Lexington resident — thereby adding to the ever-increasing number of delivery vehicles on our streets
Just because 38% of all the bottle tax is not returned to the consumer does not mean the item was chucked on the ground. Many MA communities have recycle center where these items are deposited and recycled. It is inconvenient to take all your cans, bottles and plastic bottles to the store you bought them for a nickel each. Much of the recycled plastic has industrial uses and saves natural resources to keep up with these new items. I currently feel that the bottle bill is nothing more that another state tax if only 38% of the money is being returned that means the state keeps 62% of the money to add to discretionary spending. Then the municipalities sell the recycled materials for a profit. Do away with the tax altogether and encourage recycling. Most of America is environment conscious and does not need our government charging us for bottles we will recycle anyway.
I figured out the reason for this rule. The Govenor recently proposed raising the bottle tax and eliminated water bottles from government buildings. Water bottles do not pay the bottle tax but juices, teas, soda, power drinks etc. all charge the deposit fee so that is why they are still allowed. Another tax