Plastic Bag Ban Under Consideration in Massachusetts!

by Juli McDonald, WWLP TV-22 News, Springfield, MA Tuesday, 23 Apr 2013 

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Paper or plastic? It's a question you might not hear for much longer here in Massachusetts. A growing number of Massachusetts communities have already banned plastic shopping bags, and now some state lawmakers are hoping to enact a single statewide ban. Environmentalists have been hoping for such a restriction; citing the fact that plastic bags don’t easily break down in dumps, and are quick to blow away and become litter.

While many communities across the country already have plastic bag bans in place, if this law passes, Massachusetts would become the first state to ban them at large retail stores.

- Read entire story on WWLP's site here. 
- Visit the site of State Rep. Lori Ehrlich, supporter of the plastic bag ban

Need Some Inspiration?

See how to actively support the Plastic Bag Ban Bill and do what you can to see it passed!

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE PLASTIC BAGS BANNED?
Check out the fully interactive map here.


Never Forget All That the Plastic Bag Has Done for Us!
Finished Bulk Bag passed its test run!
BULK BAGS DEBUT AT THE CREAMERY

The New Cloth Bulk bags were debuted at The Creamery as of Earth Day. They are for sale for $1 for the large size, 75¢ for the medium and 50¢ for the small. 

Buying in bulk means buying your food without disposable packaging. These bags are lightweight cotton, so they're easy to wash and use over and over every time you shop.

Over 300 of them were sewn by BagShare volunteers to avoid cabin fever during our dark winter.

Now we just have to get people used to using them...


Read about the bulk buying club and zero waste program.

Bulk foods at the Old Creamery Co-op, Cummington
Come any time and enjoy our sewing center! Sew bags for the BagShare program, come repair your clothing with our extensive supply of reclaimed and recycled material, or ask about hosting an educational event for your community group or school!

The Community Sewing Center is in the Cummington Community House Basement (use rear entrance, straight ahead, door on right).

If you have any questions just give Leni a ring at 413 634-5591.
News from the BagShare and the Bagshare Sewing Center


As many of you learned from the last issue of The Goodwill Messenger, good will is spreading in the Hilltowns! The Bagshare Project out-grew the corner space at The Village Church and thanks to a suggestion from Bernie Forgea, I met with our select board to see if we could set up a sewing center in the basement of the Community House. (Get Directions on Google Maps)

We were given the go-ahead. We are calling it The Bagshare PLUS Sewing Center because The Bagshare Project is not only about sewing bags from scrap fabric. Now that we have a great space we can expand the project to include repairing our clothing and gear, sewing our own clothing, teaching sewing, repairing and maintaining sewing machines and any other "sustainability through sewing" related events.



Sewing Events
All events are free of charge. Anyone can ask to teach their own event. All ages and levels of ability are welcome. Here's the schedule 'sew' far!


4H Sewing Group
Bagshare Sewing Center
Lead by Kathy Harrison
Saturdays, 10-11 AM
Kathy teaches basic hand sewing skills and introduces our young ones to machine sewing. Call Kathy for details - 634-5631.

There will be many more classes coming! To use The Sewing Center, call Leni to get a tour first and learn about our zero waste challenge for the center. A hearty thanks to the Cummington Select Board for allowing this to happen, and another hearty thanks for our incubator space at The Village Church.

Our sewing machine repairmen hard at work at a recent repair clinic.
___________________________
BagShare Sewing Circle Schedule
Ongoing Sewing Circles in Support of the BagShare Project
No Experience Necessary • Loads of Fun!!!!

Eastworks sew: Easthampton, MA - ongoing
Space #330 at Eastworks
Second Wednesday of every month
5:15-8 p.m.
All are welcome. No sewing experience is necessary!
Contact Chris at Serios Market: 413 584-2633

Every other Friday ongoing: Northampton
The Hampshire County Jail sew
12:00-3:00. Volunteers needed:
Contact: kathryn.callahan@hsd.state.ma.us

Leeds, MA Neighborhood sew - ongoing
Third Tuesday of every month
5-8 p.m.
Contact Alisa 413 586-9123

Ongoing/Always Needed
Sew bags at home for bagshare stores.
Pick up pre-made bag kits and Leni will teach you our easy Jiffy bag design.
Call Leni or e mail her for details.
634-5591 or leni@lenifriedprintmaking.com
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

BagShare Venues in Massachusetts

The following places host The Bagshare Project in Massachusetts.
If you forget to bring your bag you can borrow one. If you forget to return your bagshare bag, you can return it to any of these locations.

* Knack Holiday Pop-up Shop, Signature Sounds, Northampton, MA
(Saturdays 10-4 Until December 22!)
* Berkshire Organics in Pittsfield, MA
* Richard Salter Storrs Memorial Library, Longmeadow, MA
* The Old Creamery Grocery, Cummington, MA
* Elmers Grocery, Ashfield, MA
* Emily Williston Public Library, Easthampton, MA
* Cornucopia Foods, Northampton MA
* Serios Market, Northampton, MA
* The Millstone Farm Market, Sunderland, MA
* Kidstuff, Florence, MA
* Bread Euphoria, Haydenville , MA
* Wilbraham and Monson Academy, Wilbraham, MA
* Leather and Lace, Florence, MA
* Parson's Closet, Easthampton, MA

PRIME EXAMPLE OF THE BAGSHARE'S IMPACT:
The Creamery used 49,000 paper bags annually.
Since Earth Day of 2008 they became disposable bag free!
The offer the customer reused cardboard boxes or bag share bags when they forget their own. They have saved $5000 per year and 70, 15 year old trees per year.

It takes a 15 year old tree to produce 700 grocery bags.

= Denotes a venue that's completely Disposable Bag Free!