FREEPORT – Friends since their preschool days, recent Freeport High School graduates Elly Bengtsson and Meredith Broderick are hoping to leave a lasting impact on their hometown.

Bengtsson and Broderick appeared before the Freeport Town Council on July 1, asking the council to consider their draft proposal to ban the sale of disposable plastic bags in town. The Town Council voted unanimously to send the plan to the Ordinance Committee for review, and a public hearing will be scheduled within 30 days.

The two old friends, inspired by the film that they saw in chemistry class called “Bag It,” are pleased with the reaction of the council.

“They were all excited that we were taking this on,” Bengtsson said. “The ordinance committee will tweak it, and then it will go to a public hearing.”

As written, the ordinance would require businesses to replace the disposable plastic bags at supermarkets and convenience stores with more environmentally friendly containers.

Bengtsson and Broderick both realize the Ordinance Committee could recommend revisions.

“I don’t think Elly and I thought the ordinance we wrote was perfect, and could be passed as is,” Broderick said. “We’re really open to suggestions.”

Councilor Sarah Tracy, chairwoman of the Ordinance Committee, said Friday that the committee has not scheduled its next meeting, but it probably will be in July.

“The council had significant questions about the impact of such a ban on Tuesday night at the meeting, and additional information about the benefits and adverse impacts of such a ban needs to be developed and considered prior to the Ordinance Committee making a recommendation,” Tracy said. “We plan to have a full and open public process that will allow people on all sides of the issue to have an opportunity to express their views. We look forward to the dialogue and expect that there will be a fair amount of community interest in this issue,” she said.

Tracy said it’s not clear yet whether the council “will make the final determination on whether a plastic bag ban should be implemented or whether it will be sent to the residents for a referendum vote. We will be consulting with the town manager and legal counsel to implement the appropriate procedural process.”

The proposal is patterned somewhat after a Portland ordinance that goes into effect next year, which places a charge of 5 cents for each plastic or paper shopping bag used by customers. While Portland’s new ordinance imposes a fee, the proposed Freeport ordinance would ban plastic bags outright. Bengtsson and Broderick got some helpful hints from Troy Moon, who was active in getting the Portland ordinance passed.

“We were in contact with them,” Bengtsson said. “We used some of the Portland ordinance’s wording.”

A ban on the sale of plastic bags in Freeport also would bolster the town’s image as an environmentally conscious town. The Town Council banned the use of Styrofoam containers in 1990. Students led the way then, as well.

“We used a little bit of the Styrofoam ordinance that students in Freeport passed over 20 years ago,” Bengttson said.

But the impetus for the proposal began with the film, “Bag It,” which follows Jeb Barrier’s study of how prevalent plastic bags – and plastics in general – are in today’s society. The two young women were high school juniors when they first watched it. Later, they showed it to the school as part of their senior project.

“We walked out of the classroom and thought, ‘Oh, that would be really cool for a senior project,’” Bengtsson said. “It was really kind of inspiring for us.”

Mindful of the possible Portland ordinance, the two talked about the film again last winter.

“We actually went to one of their meetings in Portland and sat down and listened to their ideas,” Bengtsson said. “It was a City Council public hearing. We were taking notes.”

Bengtsson said she and Broderick took a couple of months to develop their concept, and about two-three hours to write the rough draft, with the help of Councilor Melanie Sachs. They were not sure if they should seek an outright ban, or a tax on plastic bags. They visited stores and talked to owners and managers. Adam Nappi, owner of Bow Street Market, supported a ban, Nappi confirmed.

“It seemed like most businesses would be in favor of a ban,” she said. “We talked to L.L. Bean, and found out they got rid of plastic bags four years ago.” An L.L. Bean representative could not reached before deadline to confirm Bengtsson’s claim.

Why ban plastic bags?

“Meredith and I did a lot of research on plastic and its impact on the environment,” Bengtsson said. “It doesn’t biodegrade. It hurts marine life. We’re a coastal community. Many ocean species get tangled up in them. It’s a big concern.”

Bengtsson, who is going to Holderness School in New Hampshire this fall and then plans to transfer the following year to the University of Vermont, said the primary goal is for people to use reusable bags as a first option, and paper bags as a second choice.

Broderick, who will attend Elon University in North Carolina, said she’s already seeing changes.

“It’s important, and it’s not just Freeport,” Broderick said. “It’s important to raise awareness. ‘Bag It’ inspired us. It changed our friends. Teachers and friends bought reusable bags, and stopped buying plastic water bottles. People got by for years without using plastic bags. I really hope it’s something that catches on.”

Meredith Broderick, left, and Elly Bengtsson hug following graduation from Freeport High School, on June 14 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. The two have proposed a plastic bag ban for Freeport.  

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