MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury officials are postponing work on a proposed ban of single-use plastic bags for retail transactions, pending the outcome of a legislative effort to pass a statewide ban.
Middlebury selectboard members this past Tuesday, April 9, agreed to the ordinance delay, noting bill S.113, which has passed the Senate and now reposes in the House Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife Committee. The legislation would prohibit food service businesses from providing plastic carryout bags, expanded polystyrene food service products, and plastic straws to customers.
Middlebury residents in March voted 838-211 in favor of a resolution urging their selectboard to adopt a law banning single-use plastic bags.
The town’s Policy Committee recently recommended that the selectboard appoint an ad hoc committee to draft a plastic-bags ordinance.