Governor Maura Healy of the US state of Massachusetts said she will sign an executive order prohibiting government agencies from buying single-use plastic (SUP) bottles.

She posted her intent on X, formerly known as Twitter, and the move would make her state the first in America to institute such a ban.

The announcement was part of a range of tweets on sustainability plans under preparation at the statehouse in Boston. She wrote that Massachusetts will set “biodiversity conservation goals” for 2030, 2040, and 2050 and develop strategies to meet the targets.

Local media reported that lawmakers attempted to pass laws in 2014 and 2017 that would have forced the state to favour tap water or other potable sources over water in throwaway plastic bottles, but both initiatives died in legislative committees.

The announcement follows bans on specific SUPs by multiple US municipalities and further scrutiny on the effectiveness of plastics recycling. For example, non-returnable bottles are no longer available at the Los Angeles airport LAX, and the county is considering the elimination of the well-known “chasing arrows” recycling symbol.