FREEPORT

Economic and environmental analysis of a potential single-use bag ban or fee in Freeport are near completion and those finalized reports should soon be presented to the town council’s ordinance committee.

Freeport began examining the issue about a year ago after Meredith Broderick and Elly Bengtsson, who were then recently graduated from Freeport High School, proposed an outright ban on disposable plastic bags. The two had examined the issue closely as part of their senior project.

On April 14, the council unanimously voted for further analysis of the environmental impacts of disposable bags and the economic result of limiting the bags in town.

Freeport Town Manager Peter Joseph said the recycling and solid waste committee, which oversees recycling operations for the town and advises the town council, has been analyzing the environmental benefits and costs associated with a bag ordinance. Keith McBride, executive director of the Freeport Economic Development Corporation, has been looking at what if any economic impact there would be on businesses.

Town Council Chairwoman Melanie Sachs said the threemember ordinance committee has received both preliminary reports but needed some clarification on one point from the recycling and solid waste committee.

Sachs said that Sarah Tracy, the councilor who chairs that committee, hopes the finalized reports will be ready soon so the committee can meet within the next few weeks and go from there. No ordinance has been drafted at this point.

It is a very thorough process that is underway, Sachs said, adding that the ordinance committee is being very deliberative in its effort to form the best policy based on solid data. She expects part of the analysis will be to look at other communities as well, noting every community is different.

There are many variables to consider, Sachs said, including whether the town wants to implement fees or an outright ban on paper, plastic or both.

Sachs said the town may also need to consider whether an ordinance applies to single use disposable bags just for grocery stores, or be in effect town-wide.

She expects the ordinance committee will recommend the ordinance be considered by the town council after a public hearing, or be voted on at a referendum. In the case of the latter, she’s expect it to go to referendum in November but there’s no set timeframe.

Bow Street Market marked Earth Day on April 22 by eliminating single-use plastic bags at the checkout line, a move the market estimates will remove more than 600,000 plastic bags from the waste stream every year.

Store manager Jim Frey said at the time of the announcement that it was a decision spurred by environmental concern and would likely have occurred whether or not Freeport contemplated a bag fee or ban.

On Tuesday, Frey said in an email that customer support has been great.

“We still offer paper bags at no extra cost,” he said. “Sales are still on the increase, so I would say it did not effect us in a negative way. We are definitely seeing an increase in reusable bags. For us it’s about changing the habit and it’s looking like we are being successful at that.”

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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