Last May, Middletown Town Council heard testimony from Surfrider International - Rhode Island Chapter activists about the physical and environmental costs of single-use-plastics to the town.   Although the council voiced unanimous support of the ban-the-bag concept, they stopped short of proposing a local ordinance.  Town Administrator Shawn Brown advised council that restriction of plastics should be initiated at the state level. 

Surfrider advocate Lisa Wagenbach said while she was pleased to hear the support, she believed it was a local decision.

The town of Barrington agreed.

After listening to the ban-the-bag argument, Barrington Council proposed an ordinance that would prohibit retail sales establishments from using plastic bags.  Violators would be fined $150 for a first offense, and $300 for subsequent offenses.

Barrington will vote on the ordinance on Monday, Oct. 1.

Do you think Middletown should revisit the ban-the-bag concept on a local level?  Take our poll and tell us why, or why not, in the comments section below.