Request for Committee Action
A briefing memo explaining the purpose, background, and impact of the requested action.
Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance Update (RCA-2020-00262)
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
To Committee(s)
| # | Committee Name | Meeting Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Public Health, Environment, Civil Rights, and Engagement Committee | March 16, 2020 |
Action Item(s)
| # | File Type | Subcategory | Item Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Receive & File | Update | Receiving and filing a report relating to resident outreach and education to encourage residents to bring their own bag and understand the Bring Your Own Bag (BYOB) ordinance. |
Ward / Neighborhood / Address
| # | Ward | Neighborhood | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | All Wards |
Background Analysis
The Minneapolis Health Department will present an update on the Bring Your Own Bag Ordinance. The BYOB ordinance was originally adopted in 2015 with a ban on single-use plastic bags and a $0.05 fee on paper bags. Legislative changes at the State pre-empted the City’s ban on single-use plastic bags the day before the ordinance was to go into effect. In November 2019, City Council voted to amend Title 11, Chapter 225 of the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances relating to Health and Sanitation: Garbage and Refuse to require retail establishments in Minneapolis to charge a $0.05 fee for bags at the point of sale. The fees are collected and kept by the business. The goal of the ordinance is to encourage patrons to consider alternatives to single use bags.
With the ordinance amendments, City Council directed staff from the Health Department, CPED, Regulatory Services and Solid Waste and Recycling to create an outreach plan to raise awareness and support for residents to bring their own bags when shopping. Staff are to report back to the City Council in the first quarter of 2020 on the plan and actions taken to assist residents, especially those low to moderate income residents, in understanding the new rule and resources to help them more easily bring their own bag.
FISCAL NOTE
- No fiscal impact anticipated