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By Alison Sandstrom

Prohibiting Plastics

P.A. poised to become first city in the province to ban plastic bags

Dec 12, 2019 | 12:21 PM

Prince Albert city council is moving ahead with plans to ban all single use plastic check-out bags.

Pending a final vote at the end of January, the city will begin enforcing the new rule at the beginning of August, giving businesses a grace period to adjust.

The measure is aimed at cutting the amount of plastic in the city’s costly landfill and reducing litter in the community .

The potential bylaw was before council for three readings on Monday night, but the unanimous consent needed to grant leave for the third reading was not achieved. The majority of councillors who support the bylaw will have to wait until their next meeting to see it passed.

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“I think that we’re hearing loud and clear from the public that they want us to be moving forward as a council in the ways that we can to be more environmentally responsible,” Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp told council.

City staff estimate that 3.6 million plastic bags are distributed in Prince Albert every year. While P.A. would be the first municipality in Saskatchewan to ban single use plastic bags, around 25 cities in Canada have similar bans.

Several exceptions will be made, including for packaging bulk items, fruits and vegetables.

“Does this go far enough as far as single use plastic cutlery, straws,” Coun. Evert Botha questioned during the meeting.

“We have a lot of exceptions in here which we could probably address in six months from now.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom