Green Newton

The Healey Administration has still not finalized the Environmental Bond Bill. We are hearing that they are interested in adding the Bottle Bill, Plastic Bag Ban, and Polystyrene Ban to the bill, but they need to know
that voters are behind them.

Now is the time to make a phone call or send a personalized email to Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll. If you haven’t already called, please do. The calls are logged. If you have called, please send an email. 

1. Phone: (617) 725-4005 (they are in the same office)
2. Email: Alicia Rebello-Pradas is the Gov’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs (Alicia.m.rebello-pradas@mass.gov)
3. Email:  Juan Gallego is the Lt. Gov’s Deputy Chief of Staff (Juan.Gallego@mass.gov)

Sample Script:

(Please vary this up and add your own details – if everyone sends in the same language it will get ignored.)

Hello, I’m calling to ask Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll to add the modernization of the Bottle Bill, the Plastic Grocery Bag Ban, and the Polystyrene Ban to the Environmental Bond Bill.

My name is ___________. I am calling from ____________, MA. I’m a member of__________(name of group, if you are in one).

*WHY YOU CARE – Make this PERSONAL! *

– A modernized version of the bottle bill will help remove litter from our streets and waterways, save cities and towns recycling and trash costs, and make money for the Commonwealth.
– Polystyrene is carcinogenic and an environmental toxin. Many Massachusetts cities and towns have already passed polystyrene bans, as have 8 other states.
– Massachusetts has over 160 different municipal plastic shopping bag bans representing over 2/3 of the population. It’s time to simplify the regulations and eliminate plastic shopping bags entirely.

Please protect our health by reducing our use of plastic. The Commonwealth has fallen behind. Let’s get this done.

Bill Numbers if Needed:

a. An Act to Reduce Polystyrene in the Environment –
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD2792>H.912
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H912> – Rep Ciccolo /
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD2373>S.629
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S629> – Sen Lewis – Statewide Ban, including foam foodware, docks, peanuts, etc.

b. An Act Relevant to Plastic Bag Reduction – Bill
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD3831>H.933
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H933> / S.590
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S590> – Rep Mindy Domb and Senator Jamie Eldridge – Statewide Ban, bans “thicker” bags, too

c. An Act to Update the Bottle Bill –
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD3764>H3464
<https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3464> – Rep Ciccolo – increasing universe of bottles and cans, increasing refund, targets for recycling, enforceable