Still exempt, unfortunately. Ordinary thin polyethylene produce bags without handles are legal in both Cambridge and Boston when used for loose fruit, vegetables, bulk goods, meat, or similar items before checkout.

Boston explicitly says bags without handles are not covered by its plastic-bag ordinance.   Cambridge’s ordinance likewise targets checkout bags, not the small inner produce bags used to contain loose goods.

So:

• PE bag from the produce roll: legal

• Thin PE bag handed out at checkout with handles: generally prohibited

• Store using produce bags as improvised checkout bags: potentially reportable, especially if staff routinely bag ordinary purchases in them

Thus, seeing plastic produce bags alone is not a violation worth reporting. The law bans the conspicuous bag at the register while leaving armies of smaller bags untouched, because environmental legislation apparently enjoys slapstick. 🥬🛍️