Plastic Bags Could Be Banned in Portsmouth

A similar ban is already in place in Cambridge, MA

City councilors in Portsmouth are trying to push through a new initiative that would ban the use of plastic bags.

Seacoastonline reports that city councilor Brad Lown is behind the initiative.  He and fellow councilor Josh Denton motioned to move forward with the process of the ban through the council agenda at a meeting on Monday night.

The movement was unanimously approved.

The next step is to write a letter of request to the Department of Environmental Services to see if such a ban will be allowed in the state of New Hampshire.

Lown advised that the ban would come with some exemptions for in the case of non-profits organizations.

For those in violation, the penalties would start off as written warning for first time offenders, followed by a $100 fine for repeat offenses.