Branford Latest Town to Enact Ban On All Plastic Bags At Stores

BRANFORD, CT - You can add the town of Branford to the many towns that have taken the leap and overwhelmingly, and across party lines, voted to ban the use of single use plastic bags at stores in town.

The Representative Town Meeting took the action at it June 12th meeting after hearing a large group of audience members, which included many school-age students, implore them to do so.

RTM member Chris Sullivan said he was "glad to see Branford taking the lead on this issue.”

Fellow RTM member Peter Hentschel said he couldn’t remember an issue where the RTM has received more public input to take a stand.

The crowd erupted with applause following the vote.

The ban will take effect six months from now, giving those stores that use plastic bags time to cycle through inventory.

Across the state, Hamden, Mansfield, Middletown, New Canaan, New Britain, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Greenwich, and Westport have passed bans on single-use plastic bag.

Those keeping track said by their count about 30 towns across the state are in the process of either finalizing or getting close to finalizing their own bans on plastic bags — and/or charging fees for their use.

The General Assembly recently passed a statewide ban on the use of plastic bags but in it the language of the statewide bill it reads that any town that passes its own legislation could do so.

The Branford ordinance as written will impose a warning on a store that violates the ban, on a first a first offense; a second offense will result in a $150 fine, a third a $150 fine and 8 hours of community service, and every subsequent violation another $150 fine.

Enforcement will fall under the jurisdiction of the police department.

The local law allows retailers to charge for distribution of single use paper bags, something meant to strongly encourage residents to bring their own reusable bags for shopping. Retailers may charge up to 10 cents per bag, that amount can increase another 5 cents every 5 years, up to a maximum of 25 cents.

Residents who are on food stamps or other state aid are exempt from the charge.