When Brunswick Town Councilors passed an ordinance last month banning single-use plastic bags — eight in favor, one opposed — the town joined Falmouth, Freeport, Kennebunk, Portland, South Portland, Topsham and York in getting rid of local use of the bags. There is also pending legislation at the Maine Legislature to phase out single-use plastic bags statewide.
Brunswick's ban begins Sept. 1.
The ordinance was proposed by Brunswick Councilor Steve Walker, who said he had received a stack of letters in support of a ban from a fourth-grade class at the local elementary school. "That's what I'm here for, to look out for the next generation," The Times Record reported he said at the town meeting.
Local environmentalists, including Marcia Harrington of Topsham, reported that they worked two years on the issue, sending mailings to many businesses in town, collecting 1,400 signatures in support of the ban, and setting up tables at community events, such as farmers markets, to talk to town residents about their proposal.