Duluth City Council Defers 5-cents Fee on Single-Use Plastic Bags

The ordinance requires customers to pay for single-use plastic bags.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Duluth City Council decided Monday to postpone the implementation of previously announced five-cent fee on single-use plastic bags at grocery stores. The fees, which would have come into effect on April 1^st, 2020, have now been pushed back for another nine months.

The move is based on general agreement that front-line workers, including grocery store workers, should not be exposed to any undue stress, especially on account of uncertainties and crisis created by coronavirus spread. There have been reports that grocery stores across the country have been faced with great challenges.

The amendment resolution to the original legislation, stretching out the timeline for implementation until January 2021, was approved unanimously by 8-0 vote. Councillor Barb Russ abstained from the voting.

The ordinance requires customers to pay for single-use plastic bags. It allows retailers to charge even more than 5 cents per bag, with fee details printed on customer’s receipt. The retail outlets could retain the fee thus collected, which could used to meet the cost of the bags.

ALSO READ: Denver, CO City Council to Vote on Plastic Bag Fee

The ordinance exempts pharmacy bags, bags for carrying produce or meat, food take-away bags, newspaper bags, dry-cleaning bags, door-hanging bags, garment bags and bags to protect fine art.

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