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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1423 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 443
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael J. Barrett
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to combat disposable plastic straw waste.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Michael J. BarrettThird Middlesex 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1423 FILED ON: 1/19/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 443
By Mr. Barrett, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 443) of Michael J. Barrett for
legislation to reduce disposable plastic straw waste. Environment and Natural Resources.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 494 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to combat disposable plastic straw waste.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 140 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after section 6B the following section:-
3 Section 6C. (a) As used in this section, the following terms shall have the following
4meanings:
5 “Biodegradable materials”, compostable materials such as wood, paper, bagasse or other
6cellulose fiber composite. Materials composed of biologically based polymers that do not
7reliably biodegrade in aquatic environments are not considered biodegradable.
8 “Consumer”, a person receiving food or beverages from a food service establishment.
9 “Department”, the Department of Environmental Protection. 2 of 2
10 “Food service establishment”, an operation that stores, prepares, serves, vends or
11otherwise provides food for human consumption. Food service establishments include without
12limitations full-service restaurants, food trucks, self-service food establishments and fast-food
13establishments.
14 “Single-use plastic straw”, a single-use, disposable drinking straw made of plastic
15derived from petroleum-based polymers or non-biodegradable biological polymer. A single-use
16plastic straw does not include reusable drinking straws or straws made from biodegradable
17material.
18 “Reusable straw”, a drinking straw that can be appropriately cleaned and sanitized for
19customer reuse.
20 (b) A food service establishment may not provide a single-use plastic straw unless
21requested by a consumer or selected by the consumer from a self-service dispenser.
22 (c) The department shall promulgate regulations with regard to the enforcement of this
23chapter.
24 SECTION 2. This act shall go into effect on January 2, 2025.