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Mass. town one of first communities to ban plastic water bottles

CONCORD (FOX25 / MyFoxBoston.com) – After a three-year campaign by local activists, the Townof Concord has become one of the first communities in the United States to banthe sale of single-serving plastic water bottles.

The plastic water ban went into effect on January 1, 2013. The bottle banapplies to non-sparkling, unflavored drinking water in single-servingpolyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles of 1 liter (34 ounces) or less.

Local activists pushed a return to tapwater, saying banning the bottles will cut down on plastic waste and reduce theuse of the fossil fuels used to make the bottles.

Stores will be fined up to $50 for violatingthe ban. An exemption is allowed during emergencies; however, businessesopposed the ban, saying it restricts of freedom of choice and will simply drivebottled water sales out of town.

According to the town's website,the first offense results in a warning, the second offense results in a $25fine, and the third and each subsequent offense results in a $50 fine.

Concord's Health Division staff is in charge of enforcing the ban.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.