That the City Manager is requested to work with the License Commission and other relevant departments to prepare recommendations on regulations that would ban or limit the sale of nips in Cambridge

O-12 FIRST IN COUNCIL October 2, 2023 City of Cambridge COUNCILLOR NOLAN COUNCILLOR MCGOVERN COUNCILLOR CARLONE WHEREAS: The City Council has passed policy orders urging the City to take action to ban single- use plastics, have urged specific action on plastic water bottles, and have supported state action to limit plastic waste; and WHEREAS: The City of Cambridge has taken many steps to reduce the use of single-use plastics and reduce overall waste in Cambridge as evidenced by their actions to ban plastic bags, polystyrene takeout containers, reducing the use of plastic water bottles, and through the Zero Waste Master Plan, and the continuing work of the Recycling Committee; and WHEREAS: The Health and Environment Committee of the City Council will be meeting on October 25, 2023 to discuss, review, and evaluate the Zero Waste Master Plan and plan reports and updates, and to discuss possible ways to further reduce waste in Cambridge including exploring how the city might eliminate single-use plastics including but not limited to nips, bottled water, and utensils; and WHEREAS: There has been other municipal action in Massachusetts to limit the sale of mini plastic alcohol bottles, also called “nips,” including in New Bedford, Newton, Falmouth, Wareham, Mashpee, and Chelsea, which has not only seen a decrease in plastic litter, but also a large decrease in alcohol related emergency calls; and WHEREAS: The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has indicated that plastic nips cannot be recycled due to their small size, therefore all nips will end up in landfills or litter the local streets and waterways of Cambridge; and WHEREAS: As has been done in other municipalities, the Cambridge License Commission can take immediate action to limit or ban nip sales in new stores and to phase in a ban or a limit throughout the city so that existing stores have an opportunity to sell the remainder of their current stock; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the License Commission and other relevant departments to prepare recommendations on regulations that would ban or limit the sale of nips in Cambridge and prepare to discuss a proposal at the Health and Environment Committee meeting on October 25, 2023.