Environment

Mapp Vetoes Measure Allowing Retailers To Use Plastic Bags Until August

ST. THOMAS -- Governor Kenneth Mapp has vetoed an attempt by the Legislature to postpone the effective date of the plastic bag ban, a move made by the Senate following lobbying by grocers who said they needed additional time to use plastics bags that had been purchased before the law took effect. The plastic bag ban law took effect in October 2016 and called for the end of plastic bag use in most cases by businesses in the territory on April 1, 2017. In a letter to Senate President Myron Jackson explaining reasons for his actions on a section of Bill No. 32-0040, the governor said more should be done to protect the environment, not less. “Change requires courage,” Mr. Mapp wrote. “Many retailers and consumers have greeted the ban on plastic bags well. They prepared themselves, spent thousands of dollars on brown bags and reusable shopping bags. Many businesses have purchased large orders of bags in compliance with the new law. For whom and why are we retreating to re-allow plastic bags...