(The Canadian Press)

By Charlene Tebbutt

single-use plastic bags

City council requests information about banning single-use plastic bags

May 7, 2019 | 5:00 PM

A local city councillor has asked for more information about the usage of plastic bags in Prince Albert, and says local residents should be involved in the discussions as well.

Ward 2 Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp requested a report from city administration on the possibility of banning single-use plastic bags in the city at council’s last regular meeting April 29. Lennox-Zepp said communities across the country are banning plastic bags and she’d like to see Prince Albert do the same.

“I think it may move us in a good direction,” Lennox-Zepp said at a council meeting last week. “I think we all want to make improvements in this city and I want us as a city to be on the right side of history.”

Lennox-Zepp wants to get feedback from residents and businesses on the issue as well.

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“Even though they are recyclable, we’re finding that nobody’s taking them and willing to recycle them,” she added. “Twenty-five municipalities in Canada do ban plastic bags and I want to see a report so we can see if this is something that makes sense for our city and our residents.”

The issue is timely, Mayor Greg Dionne said, as the city is just two or three years away from having to add another cell at the local landfill. The cost for that would be around $1.6 million, Dionne told councillors.

Dionne said he’s also written a letter to the province’s minister of environment to find out who gets the money from recycling plastic bags. The recycling fee should come back to the City of Prince Albert, he added.

The issue has been sent to city administration for a report within 90 days.

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Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebutt