BOSTON (AP) — A group representing supermarkets and other Massachusetts food stores is offering qualified support for a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.
A legislative committee holds a public hearing Tuesday on a bill that would prohibit retailers from providing customers with the single-use carryout bags at the point of purchase. Stores could charge customers for purchasing recyclable or reusable bags.
The Massachusetts Food Association plans to testify in support of a ban, but is asking for a longer phase-in period than the Aug. 1 implementation date in the legislation .
The group says it would prefer a single, uniform statewide regulation to the patchwork of local plastic bag ordinances in nearly 100 cities and towns.
New York lawmakers recently approved a plastic bag ban. There are statewide prohibitions in California and Hawaii.
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