Presentation at Massachusetts Sustainable Communities and Campuses Conference on March 17, 2017

1. Banning Plastic Bags &
Styrofoam in Ipswich
Ipswich High School
Sustainability Scholars

2. Why Ban was Needed
-Dangerous to sea life as animals can ingest them or become
entangled in them

3. Why Ban was Needed cont.
-Never truly decompose
-Large source of pollution

4. Why Ban was Needed cont.
-Plastic bags are not recyclable in curbside recycling and clog
machinery in recycling centers.

5. Our goal
Ban plastic bags in Ipswich in order to get people to use more
environmentally sustainable bag options!

6. How did we do it?
- Started out of our sustainability class

7. How did we do it? cont.
Set up a table at the farmer’s market and garnered support from
community members

8. How did we do it? cont.
Talked to local businesses and listened to their questions and
concerns. Surveyed their opinions about the ban.

9. How did we do it? cont.
Presented to many local committees and groups

10. How did we do it? cont.
Wrote a bylaw that fit our town’s needs

11. How did we do it cont.
Talked to people who had successfully passed bans
Attended Mass Green conference

12. How did we do it? cont.
Presented at Town Meeting in front of about 500 people for it to be
voted on.

13. The vote and outcome
The ban was passed with overwhelming majority

14. Contact us for more info
Claire McElwain: clairemcelwain22@gmail.com
Claire Werner: claire.e.werner@gmail.com
Lori LaFrance: llafrance@ipsk12.net
For resources: