Plastic Ban Movement Gaining Momentum in MN

Duluth Addresses Overuse of Plastic Bags

Sorry, this video is no longer available

The City of Duluth sends 3,200 tons of plastic waste to the landfill every year. 

A movement that gained momentum in California is going national. 

Western Lake Superior Sanitary District (WLSSD) hopes the number of waste collected per year will soon fall as more communities look for ways to reduce the plastic that blinds landscapes and clogs up sewers and streams. 

St. Louis Park, near the Twin Cities, is among one of those communities that could completely ban plastic bags. 

Environmentalists at WLSSD say it may not completely fix the problem and said we can do other things like shop with a reusable bag. 

But, the problem is much more widespread. 

“It can also be things like the film that goes around your toilet paper wrap, a newspaper comes in a little plastic bag, you have dry cleaning bags, bread bags, even produce when you’re buying potatoes or carrots and things like that,” said Environmental Program Coord. with WLSSD, AJ Axtell.

Plastic grocery bags are popular because they’re light weight and perceived as cheap. 

But, reusable bag users beg to differ. 

“They’re stronger than regular bags because they don’t break and it keeps paper bags out of the waste feed,” said Ted Halpern.

As for commercial plastic waste, WLSSD says it takes up more space in the landfills than you may think. 

“They have all of their pallets come in with shrink wrap around their entire pallet.  When they get individual items in each shirt, each little item that comes into the store is in a small plastic bag that needs to be removed,” said Axtell.

Americans use an estimated 100 billion plastic bags every year and 200 cities and counties in the U.S already ban or tax plastic bags.

Duluth City Council President, Emily Larson, is excited the ban has made it’s way to Minnesota and hope the Northland can follow.