TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has banned plastic bags, plastic straws, foam containers, and gas cars, could single-use plastic bottles be next? If he continues to follow the lead of other state governors who share his climate views, it could happen.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced an immediate ban on the purchase of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies. The announcement was made at a Clinton Global Initiative meeting in New York City.
Healey, a Democrat, outlined the new policy alongside other environmental initiatives, such as establishing “biodiversity conservation” goals for the state. The governor has consistently emphasized climate action, including plans to transition to electric vehicles and minimize pollution.
The Executive Order was effective immediately upon announcement. “Plastics are one of the biggest threats to our oceans. In government, we can chart a better path forward, and Massachusetts is proud to lead the way,” said Healey in a tweet.
Melissa Hoffer, a former Environmental Protection Agency lawyer, was appointed as Massachusetts’ first-ever climate chief in January. The state also sought $250 million in federal grants for renewable energy projects earlier this year.
In 2013, the town of Concord, Massachusetts, was among the first to take action against single-use plastics, banning the sale of bottled water smaller than one liter. More than 20 towns in the state have followed suit with similar restrictions.
“Massachusetts can’t do this alone — our natural world recognizes no political divisions, and neither should our work to protect it,” Healey later tweeted.