Eastham Select Board Adopts Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban

EASTHAM – The Eastham select board voted unanimously last month in favor of the adoption of the Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban.

The vote, effective immediately, means that the town as a matter of operating policy will no longer purchase single use plastic bottled beverages and will not allow the sale of beverages in single use plastic containers on town property.

“This vote is consistent with our interest in promoting environmental stewardship and establishing a leadership responsibility at the local level for environmental action,” said Select Board Chair Aimee Eckman.

“We are in agreement with Sustainable Practices that the time for action is now, the evidence of the adverse impact of s single-use convenience plastic is all around us.”

Following the presentation of the Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban by Madhavi Venkatesan, executive director of Sustainable Practices, the select board discussion moved to discussing ways to improve municipal access to public water.

“The select board is committed to facilitating the installation of municipal water stations,” said Select Board member Jamie Rivers.

“Municipal water is tested routinely and is a cheaper source of drinking water compared with single-use plastic both financially and resource-wise.”

Sustainable Practices is a grassroots organization focused on promoting environmental stewardship for the benefit of the Cape’s residents and visitors.

“We are located across the Cape and the Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban is our first step toward increasing awareness of the impact of consumption choices and the responsibility inherent in our decision-making,” said Gary Senecal, an Eastham resident and the organization’s representative in the community noted,

“Promoting a consistent single action towards convenience plastic across the Cape is important. We cannot effectively change our relationship with and responsibility to the environment in town-based fragments. We are thankful for the support and leadership of the Eastham select board and we look forward to established by-laws,” said Venkatesan.

The Municipal Plastic Bottle Ban policy will be forwarded as an article in the next Eastham Town Meeting where citizens will have an opportunity to vote for the ban as town by-law.