Mayor Leng Temporarily Suspends
Plastic Bag Ban Enforcement in Hamden
ACTION TAKEN To Help Physical Distancing
By Keeping Sales Lines Moving
HAMDEN, Conn. – Mayor Curt Balzano Leng has temporarily suspended the enforcement of a Hamden Ordinance Prohibiting the Use of Plastic Bags in Hamden through May 15th. The action has been taken in an effort to assist our residents and our retailers work to increase social distancing at grocery stores, as a supplement to the extensive action taken by the Governor yesterday, with his very important “Safe Store Rules” issued by executive order. The suspension of the ban is supported by the Quinnipiack Valley Health District in consultation with Hamden grocers including ShopRite and Stop & Shop.
Reasoning for this suspension stems from an effort to ensure that lines are moving quickly, and that shoppers are not congregating in check-out areas. Certain grocers, including Stop & Shop and ShopRite in Hamden, have disallowed employees from touching re-usable bags as a health precaution, due to possible un-intended contamination instances and have also indicated a growing shortage of paper bags.
Commenting, Mayor Leng stated, “When our community returns to a sense of normalcy, this suspension will be terminated. This is a small but potentially important action to support Governor Lamont’s Safe Store Rules. Protecting our environment is extremely important, but ensuring people can get in and out of the grocery store without potential delay and with as much physical distancing from others in this global health emergency is the right thing to do for the health of our residents and our retail workers. We must be responsible, we must maintain our distance, it is the only way to reduce the spread and save lives.”
Residents of Hamden are encouraged to follow responsible and hygienic grocery shopping habits, including wearing gloves when able and ensuring that surfaces, including shopping carts, are wiped down with a viable cleaning solution before use. Additionally, be sure to consult recommendations from Quinnipiack Valley Health Department and the CDC on proper methods to sanitize your groceries for entry and storage into your homes.
For further information, please call the Office of the Mayor at 203-287-7100.
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