The Green Commission is weighing whether to support a ban on plastic shopping bags and polystyrene containers.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After several months of consideration, the city's Green Commission may be close to taking a vote on whether to support the concept of two separate ordinance changes that would ban plastic shopping bags and polystyrene containers within the city.

 

Since April 2013, local government has been taking input on both possibilities from a variety of local residents as well as national industry advocates on the pros and cons of joining some other Massachusetts communities in prohibiting these items for environmental reasons.

 

Now, a subcommittee of city staff will pursue a final round of input gathering from the local business community before the Green Commission decides whether to vote in favor of the basic concept, as a purely advisory recommendation that would still need to be codified into ordinance by the City Council.

 

"The communication to the public is important, that now is the time to speak up," said Chairman Joseph LaRoche.

 

Bruce Collingwood and James McGrath will act on behalf of the commission to solicit input from the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Pittsfield Inc. in order to survey a number of local businesses on whether they favor the ban or not, and why, and return with that information when the commission meets again on Nov. 17

 

Once the commission takes a vote on the overall concept, they can begin to refine some language for a draft ordinance, including any desired exemptions identified through the process.  

 

"Ultimately, it's a council decision," said McGrath.

 

According to the city code amendment governing its formation in 2008, the commission's purview consists entirely of matters related to energy conservation and efficiency. The commission had no experience in reviewing citizen petitions on other matters of local environmental concerns, until these dual petitions from local attorney Rinaldo Del Gallo were referred to the commission by a stymied City Council subcommittee in 2013. 

 

Commission member Nancy Nylen argued for a stronger motion indicating a more overall leaning of the commission in favor of the proposed bans

 

"Tabling it again may not embody the spirit of the positive direction," said Nylen. "It seems that it would be helpful for us to say that the commission is looking favorably on the viability of a ban."

 

"If the community hears that, specifically, I think we'll get more responses, or we won't," agreed LaRoche.  "But at least the message will be clear on what direction we're leaning."

 

Ultimately it was decided that it needed to be tabled in order to keep the petition within the Green Commission's deliberation, before making an affirmative motion that would send the issue on to the Council's Ordinance & Rules Committee.

 

According to Del Gallo, the idea for the bans was inspired by ordinances passed in other Massachusetts communities, including Great Barrington, which adopted a ban on polystyrene containers 25 years ago and placed similar restrictions on plastic shopping bags earlier this year.

 

Earlier this month, local grocer Guido's Fresh Marketplace announced that it has ceased use of plastic shopping bags at its Pittsfield location.