By JULIE CUNNINGHAM and CHRIS COLLINS
(Greenfield, MA) – The city’s ban on single-layer plastic bags is being reinstated. Keith Barnicle, Communications Director for Greenfield Mayor Roxann Wedegartner, says the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has rescinded its order from during the peak months of the COVID19 pandemic in Massachusetts that prohibited the use of reusable bags and allowed cities that had banned single-use, plastic bags to temporarily reinstate their use.
Greenfield’s bag ban, which went into effect in January, was suspended due to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health order on March 25th to reduce COVID-19 exposure for customers and employees at retail establishments.
Barnicle says businesses that have been using single-use, plastic bags since March 25th will have a 30 day grace period to use up remaining bags – after August 17th 2020, businesses may contact the Greenfield Department of Health to apply for a waiver.