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Ulysses Lateiner submitting comments re: #206055, an Order that the City Solicitor draft a plastic straw ban ordinance.
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To the Honorable City Council:
I understand the City Council is considering a Plastic Straw Ban (PSB) ordinance that would ban automatic distribution of plastic straws by Somerville businesses. I enthusiastically support this proposal. Plastic straws are a limited-utility item that represents a public nuisance (in the form of unattractive trash) as well as an environmental menace (in the form of plastic pollution whose harms to wildlife are well documented). Our community will be better off without them.
Beyond banning automatic distribution of plastic straws by businesses, I hope this ordinance can be designed to encourage businesses to distribute compostable/biodegradable straws, but only on request. If there is indeed consumer demand for straws, an on-request policy will reveal this, and demand for compostable/biodegradable straws will encourage the development of "green manufacturing" jobs to meet this demand-- perhaps even within Somerville itself.
However, I oppose any provision that might allow plastic straws to be made available on request by individuals with medical need. I support making straws available on request to individuals with medical need, but I see no valid reason why compostable/biodegradable straws cannot meet this need. Therefore, the PSB should limit itself to allowing on-request distribution of compostable/biodegradable straws in all cases, as this provision should be sufficient to meet any medical need.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Ulysses Lateiner
15 Chandler Street