NATICK - Local environmentalist Pat Conaway worked for several years before getting Natick to adopt a regulation restricting the use of single-use plastic bags in stores.
Then, Brent Longtin tried unsuccessfully to get that Board of Health rule repealed as he worried in part about the environmental consequences of using alternative paper bags.
Now, the two Natick residents are putting aside their disagreement to encourage shoppers to say "no" to single-use paper and plastic bags and yes to reusable ones.
Single-use bags are wasteful, take resources to make and contribute to litter, although the environmental effects of paper and plastic are different, they said.
"We want to get to the point where bring your own bag is more the prevailing practice," Conaway said.
But, that hasn't happened yet. Longtin visited Stop & Shop and Roche Bros. for about an hour each in December and found collectively almost three-fourths of the bags shoppers carried out were paper. Shoppers, Longtin said, are used to getting bags at the stores and are not in the mindset of bringing reusable bags to the store.
"That’s what we're up against," he said. "This deeply ingrained behavior."
Longtin and Conaway, who met at a municipal meeting, hope to wage an education campaign with help from town officials and stores. Conaway distributes free reusable totes. And, they hope stores will host signs urging people to use reusable bags.
Reaching out to children, who will in turn tell their parents, could also be effective, Conaway said.
They have approached the Board of Health.
An education campaign is a good idea, but the Health Department doesn't have the staffing to do it on its own, said Public Health Director Jim White, who offered to reach out to some store managers.
"We will help where we can," White said.
Longtin and Conaway hope their partnership will help the environment and show how people with differing views can work together.
They would be available to talk to Congress, Longtin said.
"I believe opponents on an issue can find common ground and we're a pretty good example," Conaway said. "We found something in common that we think is better for everyone."
Brian Benson can be reached at 508-626-3964 or bbenson@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @bbensonmwdn.