S2830 pushes to reduce plastic waste through several measures. Retailers must charge at least 10 cents per bag for recycled paper or reusable bags, with part of the fee supporting the Plastics Environmental Protection Fund. Disposable food service ware is provided only upon request, and state agencies are generally prohibited from purchasing single-use plastic bottles. The bill establishes a statewide bulk plastic recycling program and requires labeling disposable wipes as “Do Not Flush.” The Department of Environmental Protection will enforce these rules, impose civil penalties for violations, and conduct outreach and education about non-flushable wipes.
The Massachusetts State Senate passed S2830 on June 20, 2024 by a vote of 38 to 2. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill imposes unnecessary government overreach into private businesses and consumer choices, violating principles of free-market capitalism. This type of regulation is not constitutional as it oversteps the bounds of governmental authority, interfering with the rights of businesses to manufacture and sell legal products. Additionally, this legislation’s intent is to address the false climate-change narrative. States should not embrace the left’s climate-change agenda.