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Plastic Bag Reduction Strategy Follow-up Copyright 2014 City of Dubuque Action Items # 6. ITEM TITLE: Plastic Bag Reduction Strategy Follow-up SUMMARY: City Manager recommending that a ban, tax, or fee on single-use plastic bags not be established and direction is requested regarding further staff dedication to voluntary efforts. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve ATTACHMENTS: Description Type Plastic Bag Reduction Strategy-MVM Memo City Manager Memo Staff Memo Staff Memo June 30, 2011 Memo Supporting Documentation THE CITY OF Dubuque DUB E i" Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007.2012.2013 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Follow-up Information re: Plastic Bag Reduction Strategy DATE: January 30, 2017 Sustainable Community Coordinator Cori Burbach is providing follow-up to the presentation made to the City Council by Loras College students at the December 6 City Council meeting. In 2010, the City Council first explored action related to the reduction of single-use plastic bags in Dubuque. In 2011, a taskforce comprised of City and Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) staff, retailers, and a local recycler met to develop a set of actions that could be taken to voluntarily reduce consumer plastic bag use. The task force recommended a multi-media education campaign, retail employee training, and other outreach to reach a voluntary 90% reduction in bags purchased in Dubuque by 2017. In December 2014, staff presented an update to Council in a Sustainable Dubuque quarterly work session. The report detailed difficulty in gathering data from retailers regarding plastic bag use. The report recommended extending the 90% reduction target to 2021. At varying points during this time frame, a Sustainable Dubuque intern and Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission (ESAC) members have approached large retailers in the community, asking them to voluntarily share bag distribution data and information on reduction efforts. Very little information has been shared through these outreach efforts. The retailer education package and window clings have been available on an as-requested basis. Following the City Council's recent request at the November 21, 2016 meeting to research options to reduce use of the single-use bags, City Attorney Crenna Brumwell researched the legality of instating some type of fee, tax, or ban as proposed by Loras College students. The implementation of a fee by the City for single use plastic checkout bags would necessarily be classified as either a fee or a tax. The difference between a tax and a fee under the law is important. Iowa Code 364.3 (4) address a city's authority to impose a tax, "A city may not levy a tax unless specifically authorized by a state law." In reviewing code sections where municipal taxes are authorized a tax related to single use plastic checkout bags is not covered in the legislation. Imposition of a fee classified as a tax would be an illegal tax. If a surcharge for bags is implemented as a fee the fee must meet the requirements resulting from the Iowa Supreme Court Kragnes franchise fee case for which there was a parallel case in Dubuque. The City must be able to show the fee, regardless of who collects and keeps it,' is related to the City's cost of oversight, administration, regulation, supervision, and enforcement of the specific activity, occupation, or transaction. The fee cannot be more than the City's expense. Sustainable Community Coordinator Cori Burbach is recommending that a ban, tax, or fee on single-use plastic bags not be established. City Council direction is requested regarding further staff dedication to voluntary efforts. Those efforts could include, but are not limited to, reestablishing the retailer task force on plastic bag use, outreach to retailers regarding staff training and marketing, and consumer education. These efforts would likely require some funds for materials, and more importantly, staff time. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval. Zs &4.4 . Mic ael C. Van Milligen MCVM:jh Attachment 2 cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist 3 THE CITY OF Dubuque UBE I erica .i Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007-2012-2013 TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator SUBJECT: Follow-up Information Re: Plastic Bag Reduction Strategy DATE: January 27, 2017 INTRODUCTION The purpose of this memo is to provide an update on staff research and efforts regarding the reduction of single-use plastic bags in our community. The memo is a follow-up to the presentation made to the City Council by Loras College students at the December 6 Council meeting. BACKGROUND In 2010, the City Council first explored action related to the reduction of single-use plastic bags in Dubuque. In 2011, a task force comprised of City and Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) staff, retailers, and a local recycler met to develop a set of actions that could be taken to voluntarily reduce consumer plastic bag use. The task force recommended a multi-media education campaign, retail employee training, and other outreach to reach a voluntary 90% reduction in bags purchased in Dubuque by 2017. (see attached 6.3.11 memo) In December 2014, staff presented an update to Council in a Sustainable Dubuque quarterly work session. Progress at the time included: 1. Creation of a retailer employee education package, with staff training video including tips on how to reduce plastic bags distributed (available at www.cityofudubugue.org/plasticbags), 2. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) window clings, 3. Showings of Bag It! movie at schools and Mindframe Theater, and 4. Support of community efforts, like a Lenten Plastic Bag Fast at Resurrection Parrish. However, the report detailed difficulty in gathering data from retailers regarding plastic bag use. The report recommended extending the 90% reduction target to 2021. An improvement package for consumer outreach was submitted, but not funded, in FY2016. At varying points during this time frame, a Sustainable Dubuque intern and Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission (ESAC) members have approached large retailers in the community, asking them to voluntarily share bag distribution data and information on reduction efforts. Very little information has been shared through these outreach efforts. Given limited staff resources, and the topic falling off of the City Council priority list, the retailer education package and window clings have been available on an as-requested basis. DISCUSSION Following the City Council's recent request to research options to reduce use of the single-use bags, City Attorney Crenna Brumwell researched the legality of instating some type of fee, tax, or ban. She provided the following explanation of challenges: A plastic bag fee was proposed by Loras College students recently. The students recommended a bag fee be instituted on single use plastic checkout bags. The implementation of a fee by the City for single use plastic checkout bags would necessarily be classified as either a fee or a tax. The difference between a tax and a fee under the law is important. The Iowa Supreme Court has long held a tax is a charge to pay the cost of government without regard to special benefits conferred. Consistent with this definition, the regulatory and service fees permitted under Iowa law are based on a special benefit conferred on the person paying the fee. Fees enable government administration of a specific activity, occupation, or transaction to the benefit of those engaged in the activity, occupation, or transaction. Therefore, fees designed to cover the administrative expense of regulating the specific activity, occupation, or transaction are not taxes. Consequently, any municipally imposed fee must be calculated to cover the cost of regulating the specific activities, occupations, or transactions. The Iowa Constitution, in Article III, Sec 38A grants municipalities home rule power and authority, not inconsistent with the laws of the general assembly. This allows cities to determine local affairs and government, except cities do not have the power to levy any tax unless expressly authorized by the general assembly. Iowa Code 364.3 (4) address a city's authority to impose a tax, "A city may not levy a tax unless specifically authorized by a state law." In reviewing code sections where municipal taxes are authorized a tax related to single use plastic checkout bags is not covered in the legislation. Imposition of a fee classified as a tax would be an illegal tax. 2 If a surcharge for bags is implemented as a fee the fee must meet the requirements resulting from the Kragnes franchise fee case for which there was a parallel case in Dubuque. The City must be able to show the fee, regardless of who collects and keeps it,* is related to the City's cost of oversight, administration, regulation, supervision, and enforcement of the specific activity, occupation, or transaction. The fee cannot be more than the City's expense. Fee must be evaluated and calculated very carefully and likely would require the use of a consultant/actuarial company specializing in this type of work. The analysis is the same whether the fee comes to the City of goes directly to the stores, as the fee would be required by the City. *Some communities researched have opted to require a per-bag fee, but allowed the retailer to keep the fee as long as they could show they were collecting it. In addition to the complications with instituting a fee City Attorney Brumwell describes, the ultimate goal of a fee is to reduce, and eventually eliminate, plastic bags. Therefore, the complicated process of justifying a fee structure would, ideally, not be a beneficial use of time and resources. RECOMMENDATION & REQUESTED ACTION Given the reasons above, a ban, tax, or fee on single-use plastic bags is not recommended. City Council direction is requested regarding further staff dedication to voluntary efforts. Those efforts could include, but are not limited to, reestablishing the retailer task force on plastic bag use, outreach to retailers regarding staff training and marketing, and consumer education. These efforts would likely require some funds for materials, and more importantly, staff time. Cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney Mary Rose Corrigan, Public Health Specialist 3 THE CITY OF Dubuque DUB3i&'E AII-America City 1 Masterpiece on the Mississippi 2007 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist Cori Burbach, Sustainable Community Coordinator Paul Schultz, Resource Management Coordinator SUBJECT: Retail Plastic Bag Elimination DATE: June 3, 2011 INTRODUCTION This memorandum provides staff recommendations regarding the City Council desire to develop a checkout plastic bag policy to reduce, use and manage or eliminate their disposal. The recommended approach does not include a ban on the use of plastic bags. BACKGROUND In September 2010, the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission submitted a communication to the City Council recommending the reduction/phase out of retail plastic bag use in Dubuque. The Council voted to phase out checkout plastic bag use and directed staff to devise a plan for doing so. DISCUSSION A City staff task force was formed to establish the process for meeting the Council goal. Facilitated by Mary Rose Corrigan, members include: • Cori Burbach, Sustainability Coordinator • Paul Schultz, Resource Management Coordinator • Eric Dregne, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque/Dubuque 2.0 • Bev Wagner, DMASWA Solid Waste Educator The task force gathered input from the community through a series of stakeholder group meetings scheduled with local grocers, other retailers as recommended by the Chamber of Commerce, and consumers and representatives of groups who have been tracking the environmental impact of plastic bags (including but not limited to production and cleanup costs and impact on local and natural habitats). The purpose of these stakeholder meetings was to gather information regarding what current retailers and other stakeholders are doing to reduce checkout plastic bag usage, track measurable indicators, identify economic, environmental and social/cultural impacts, and dialogue on how to move forward. Some local groups and businesses are already developing their own initiatives, outreach and incentives to reduce overall plastic bag use. 1 Staff also researched various communities and jurisdictions that have implemented plastic bag use policies, their scope, success, incentives, enforcement, etc. Background on local and global impact of plastic bags A variety of local experts and national studies provide the following rational for reducing or restricting the use of single-use plastic checkout bags: • The litter impacts on local natural ecosystems, especially creeks and streams • Carbon footprint: Greenhouse Gas emissions in production, distribution and disposal • Resource depletion of fossil fuels in production and transportation • The ugly degradation of Dubuque's aesthetics and neighborhood sanitation systems due to plastic bag litter • The cost to retail customers and cost of litter cleanup to taxpayers and businesses • The current cultural bias for short term convenience and disposability over sustainable behavior change and consumer cost savings • Impacts of Dubuque's share of plastic litter in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. Consider these facts: • Plastic bags are a major part of Iowa's $26,000,000 annual litter cleanup costs. Half of these costs are incurred by the private sector to clean up their own properties with the remaining half paid by various governmental entities. • The Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency (DMASWA) has estimated that it costs up to $30,000 annually to remove litter from the landfill premises and the Highway 20 approaches and entrance. Much of the cost is due to plastic bags blowing everywhere. (See attached photos) • Between 2 and 10% of plastic bags in the U.S. currently get recycled. • It takes 15 to 1 ,000 years for plastic bags to break down depending on their location.. • The U.S. uses about 100 billion plastic checkout shopping bags annually at an estimated cost to retailers of$4 billion. • Manufacturing the plastic bags consumed yearly in the U.S. requires 12 million barrels of oil equivalent. • It costs about $1 ,000 to collect, store, transport and bale one ton of plastic bags (112,000 bags), which can then be sold on the recyclables market for about $100. • At least one million seabirds and marine mammals die each year by ingesting plastic bag pieces which appear like potential food - especially in water. • Growing "plastic islands or soups" in the five main oceans are made up of about seven billion pounds of plastic trash and would measure about twice the size of Texas. • Approximately two billion people live in cities and countries that have either banned or added fees on checkout plastic bags. Why these facts matter: • Most plastic bags are made from fossil fuels (natural gas and crude oil) and their production generates air pollution (greenhouse gas emissions) and depletes energy resources. • These plastic bags do not biodegrade, but photodegrade, meaning that as they are exposed to light, they break into smaller and smaller pieces over time, but never totally disappear nor do they ever "compost" into beneficial material. 2 • As plastic photo degrades it acts as a sponge for various toxins which accumulate in greater concentrations. The potential exists for these toxins to then leach into soil and water resources, contaminating them. While the light weight of single use plastic bags has a convenience advantage, this same advantage turns into a major disadvantage when they escape into the environment. Blown around, plastic bags litter the local landscape, becoming an eyesore as they get caught in trees, bushes, and fences. They can also clog drains creating major problems with erosion and storm water runoff. Many of these bags end up in waterways, degrading our watershed habitat and some eventually discharge into the Mississippi River finding their way to the North Atlantic Ocean Gyre. As these bags blow, whether settling on land or in the water, some animals become entangled in them, and can drown or can't fly as a result. In addition, pieces of plastic bags are often mistaken for food by fish, birds, and other animals, and are ingested along with the embodied toxics. These chemicals have entered the food chain and can result in poisonings or death by starvation to the affected species. Many people in Dubuque reuse plastic bags but overall this is a small percentage of the bags disposed in the landfill. While some good recycling programs exist for plastic bags in Dubuque, only about 2% to 10% of plastic checkout bags are actually recycled nationally. In addition, the quality of plastic degrades each time it is recycled. Plastic from bags has a limited life due to this loss of quality and cross contamination with other materials. This curtails the demand for this type of recycled plastic for some products. Unless there is a specific program, such as Build with Bags, where bags are processed into materials for other products (benches, tables, etc.), many of these "recycled" bags are sent to third world countries where some get burned, creating more air pollution, releasing toxins, and harming the health of local workers. Trends in plastic bag reduction around the country and world Staff reviewed the policies of over 15 US communities that have banned bags, numerous communities that have developed incentive/disincentive programs, and an additional 40+ that are considering bag bans or incentive programs. Most national plastic bag reduction programs have been adopted fairly recently, with the oldest being San Francisco in 2007 and the most recent being implemented this year (2011). Reuse is included as a bag reduction strategy. However, recycling can be initially beneficial but is not a comprehensive long-term reduction strategy. Programs vary greatly as to the approach communities take to the issue, and include those that: • focus on educational efforts only, • impose a bag "user fee ," or • impose a plastic bag ban . Most of the policies passed by US cities designate the city administrator/manager or specific department to oversee the enforcement of the policy and levy fines as per their city codes. Most policies define "bags" as thinner checkout bags; this excludes bags used for produce at the grocery store or dry cleaning bags, for instance. Policies vary significantly when defining which retailers the policy applies to; the most specific policies place regulations on grocers only, while the broadest apply to every retailer in the city. 3 Most communities see their plastic bag policy as a next step in a journey toward sustainability they started a few years ago. Many also choose to implement the policy in phases, whether by purpose, contents, size and thickness of bags or types and sizes of retailers. Many have some type of educational outreach to citizens and/or retailers prior to the policy actually taking force. With many of these policies being recently enacted, and some not taking force until later this year, it has been difficult to obtain specific monitoring plans for various reduction policies: ban, or bag fee. Most with mandatory reduction or recycling policies rely on retailers to keep records of the amount recycled and to make periodic reports. See the attached Chicago Department of the Environment as one example of a system that has been put in place. Current Local Initiatives In researching potential solutions to Council's directive, staff met with grocery store representatives, Chamber members, other retailers, environmental groups, and other stakeholders to collect information on existing community efforts as well as input on recommended solutions, potential barriers to participation, etc. The result of these meetings showed that many retailers, particularly grocers, have already taken action to reduce the number of plastic bags their customers use. When retailers can incent or remind customers to bring their own reusable bags, these result in decreased costs for the retailer. Grocers have been particularly aggressive in incenting reusable bag use, with several local stores offering $0.05 rebates for each reusable bag used to pack that customer's purchases at checkout. Other stores, such as Aldi's and Sam's Club, have not offered plastic bags, or any type of bag, as an option for some time. They report that customers are aware of this policy, have changed their habits accordingly, and arrive at their stores with alternative means to carry away purchases. The Iowa Grocers' Association has also aggressively promoted the recycling of plastic bags through the Build With Bags program. Individual stores collect customers' used bags; backhaul them to their distribution outlets; and then ship them to a manufacturer where they are sorted and recycled into outdoor furniture and recreation equipment. The recycling of bags is not a viable long-term sustainable solution, as energy is still required to produce the bags and a significant amount of energy goes into the recycling of the bags. However, staff recognizes that it is a strong first step in the consumer education process and will work with stores that include bag recycling as part of their reduction strategy. Many other retailers in Dubuque offer collection locations within their stores and facilitate a bag recycling program. Finally, since the Council's discussion on plastic bags at their September 2010 meeting, a collaborative of local religious and environmental organizations have partnered to raise the awareness of the effects of disposable plastic bags and remind residents to carry reusable bags with them. A newly formed group, the Intercongregational Ecological Working Group (IEWG) comprised of representatives from women's religious congregations in the area, took on the coordination of a Lenten Plastic Bag Fast. Several groups throughout Dubuque, including parishes and Wahlert High School, utilized study materials and created awareness campaigns during Lent to encourage their members to reduce using plastic bags. In an effort to further engage the community in the discussion, several local groups and Mindframe Theater partnered to show the documentary "BAG IT: Is Your Life Too Plastic?" free to the public (March 26 and April 2). Over 320 residents attended. This movie event was one of the activities for Dubuque 2.0's Community Sustainability Challenge Game. 4 RECOMMENDATION As evidenced by the actions of grocers, other retailers, and the general public since this discussion was first brought up at the Council table, there is a public interest in reducing the number of plastic bags used once and then discarded in Dubuque. Based on this and the successful strategies of communities across the country in limiting plastic bag use, staff is recommending a phased approach that begins with public education and engagement and becomes increasingly more aggressive with the expectation that community groups, consumers and retailers will reduce or eliminate the use of plastic bags without the need for a City-enforced "ban." Staff recommends the following phased approach to reduce plastic bag use in Dubuque. All percentages would be based on a baseline of current bag use established in July 2011 . In the language below, "bags" are defined as thinner checkout bags found at grocery stores, clothing shops, and other retailers or commercial businesses. Smaller plastic "product bags" with no handles, like those used for produce, would be allowed for public health reasons. Restaurants may use plastic bags to package takeout food, but will be encouraged to find alternative packaging methods. Phase I Goal by July 1, 2012: • 25% reduction in bags purchased and distributed by chain grocers and retailers with a building footprint larger than 40,000 sq ft. (above Steve's Ace size) City staff will work internally and with partners engaged in sustainability activities to conduct a public outreach campaign that includes (1) education regarding the economic and environmental impacts of plastic bags, (2) consumer education to reduce the demand for plastic bags, and (3) retailer education to offer alternatives for lowering plastic bag use in their stores. These efforts will support and build upon existing efforts of retailers and other stakeholders. In addition, City staff will provide support to retailers in the form of a toolkit that includes ideas for their own marketing materials and also one-on-one guidance on ways that they can limit the use of bags in their stores. Initial items that would be included in the retailer toolkit include the following: • Multi-media logo, signs, messages • Publicity for retailers implementing/participating • Education/presentations/multi-media information on how to reduce/eliminate plastic bag use • Educational display to be used at community events and gathering places/stores, etc. • Retail employee in-service training and monitoring to reduce the number of plastic bags distributed (i.e. asking "Do you need a bag today?" or encouraging placing more items in one bag) • Other ideas from stakeholder groups • Dubuque 2.0 will assist with education/marketing and toolkit development. The primary performance metric would be tracking the number of checkout bags retailers purchased. A City ordinance would require the chain grocers and the largest retail businesses, larger than 40,000 square feet, to report this information to the Resource Management Coordinator on a semi-annual basis; this information would be used to provide reports to City 5 Council. Businesses smaller than 40,000 square feet would be invited to report their own use on an optional basis. City public education efforts would recognize those retailers that achieved the highest reduction rates and used the smallest total number of checkout bags per retail square foot. A secondary performance metric would be tracking the number of customer-returned plastic bags collected by retailers and shipped to a manufacturer for recycling into a product. Retailers would report this information to the Resource Management Coordinator on a bi- annual basis. City public education efforts would recognize those retailers that achieved the highest recycling rates. Phase II Goal by July 1, 2013: • 60% reduction in bags purchased and distributed by chain grocers and retail businesses larger than 40,000 sq ft; • 26% reduction in bags purchased and distributed by middle-size retail businesses between 16,000 and 39,999 sq ft. City staff would continue a collaborative community education program with the goal of reducing plastic bag demand and use without instituting a ban or tax. Businesses would continue to be required to report on a bi-annual basis to the Resource Management Coordinator, the number of bags purchased and distributed as well as customer-returned plastic bags collected and shipped to a manufacturer for recycling into a product. Phase III Goal by July 1, 2014: • 76% reduction in bags purchased and distributed by the largest chain grocers and retail businesses larger than 40,000 sq ft; • 60% reduction by middle-size between 16,000 and 39,999 sq ft; • 26% reduction by smaller-size businesses below 16,000 sq ft. City staff would continue a collaborative community education program with the goal of reducing plastic bag demand and use without instituting a ban or tax. Businesses would continue to be required to report on a bi-annual basis to the Resource Management Coordinator, the number of bags purchased and distributed as well as customer-returned plastic bags collected and shipped to a manufacturer for recycling into a product. Phase IV Goal by July 1, 2016: • 76% reduction in bags purchased and distributed by chain grocers and retail businesses larger than 16,000 sq ft; • 60% reduction by businesses below 16,000 sq ft. City staff would continue a collaborative community education program with the goal of reducing plastic bag demand and use without instituting a ban or tax. Businesses would continue to be required to report on a bi-annual basis to the Resource Management Coordinator, the number of bags purchased and distributed as well as customer-returned plastic bags collected and shipped to a manufacturer for recycling into a product. Phase V Goal by July 1, 2016: • 76% reduction in bags purchased and distributed by all Dubuque retail businesses. Businesses would continue to be required to report on a bi-annual basis to the Resource Management Coordinator, the number of bags purchased and distributed as well as 6 customer-returned plastic bags collected and shipped to a manufacturer for recycling into a product. Phase VI Goal by July 1, 2017: • 90% reduction in bags purchased and distributed by all Dubuque retail businesses. Businesses would continue to be required to report on a bi-annual basis to the Resource Management Coordinator, the number of bags purchased and distributed as well as customer-returned plastic bags collected and shipped to a manufacturer for recycling into a product. It is staff's expectation that given current efforts to reduce bag usage, the community's existing support of sustainability initiatives, and national trends, Dubuque will be able to reach a 90% reduction in plastic checkout bag use by July 1 , 2017. Throughout this process, staff will review bag use rates to determine whether these progressive targets are being reached on a voluntary basis. If it does not appear that these goals are being achieved, staff will present to Council an increased public education budget for this initiative. This budget could include funding for increased demand reduction education or competitive game strategies to reduce use, for example. In July 2016, staff will determine whether a 90% reduction can be reached by July 2017. If it does not appear that this goal can be met, an ordinance requiring certain actions by stakeholders/retailers to meet this target will be recommended. Based on current best practices, it is anticipated that any ordinance would include the use of a plastic bag incentives/disincentives/user fees. This policy, similar to the current "Pay As You Throw" solid waste model, incents a reduction action without requiring a customer to reduce it. Annual stakeholder meetings facilitated by City staff would identify strengths and weaknesses of the current initiatives, barriers to retailers, and opportunities for future efforts. The primary performance metric would be required semi-annual self-reporting by retailers of type and number of checkout bag purchased for eventual distribution to customers. This data will be used to generate trend lines on bags distributed to customers at check out. Additional metrics useful in tracking the community's progress include the following: 1 . Types and monetary value of voluntary incentives offered by retailer partners to reduce checkout bag use and/or increase recycling of plastic bags. 2. Promotion, marketing, signage and outreach by retailer partners related to reducing plastic bag use. 3. Community initiatives to reduce plastic bag use. 4. Local governmental initiatives to reduce plastic bag use. 5. Tracking surveys reporting checkout plastic bags collected as greater, less or the same at various regular litter clean-up locations by governmental, private sector and volunteer groups. 6. Trend reports from periodic comprehensive waste assessments at the DMASWA landfill specifically identifying plastic bags disposed as trash for landfilling. 7 Surnmary of timin of reduction tar ets Retailer size 7/1/2011 7/1/2012 7/1/2013 7/1/2014 7/1/2015 7/1/2016 7/1/2017 Over 40,000 sq ft Baseline 25% 50% 75% 75% 75% 90% establish 15,000-39,999 sq ft Baseline 25% 50% 75% 75% 90% established Under 15,000 sq ft Baseline 25% 50% 75% 90% established BUDGET IMPLICATIONS Community education retailer toolkit, printed materials, advertising: FY12 $2,000.00 FY13 $5,000.00 FY14 $5,000.00 FY15 $2,000.00 A likely source for these funds is the DMASWA grant program. REQUESTED ACTION Approve the strategy outlined in this memo to reduce the use of single-use plastic checkout bags by 90% in Dubuque by July 1 , 2017. MRC/cj 8 ATTACHMENT 1 Retrieved 4/8/2011 from: http://www.chicobaa.com/t-track movement.aspxx and updated from other research since this list was published. SUCCESSFUL BAG BANS Himachal Pradesh, India USA Islamabad, Pakistan Baltimore, MD (partial ban) Italy Brownsville, TX Kenya Calabasas, CA Kerala, India Edmonds, WA Leaf Rapids, Canada Fairfax, CA Maharashtra, India Long Beach, CA Manitoba, Canada Los Angeles County, CA Mumbia (Bombay), India Malibu, CA Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador Marin County, CA Canada Marshall County, IA Nova Scotia, Canada Maui County, HI Oman North Carolina Ontario, Canada Palo Alto, CA (Partial ban) Paris, France San Francisco, CA Quebec, Canada Westport, CT Red Sea, Egypt Rwanda OTHER COUNTRIES Selangor, Malaysia Ajman, UAE Sharjah, UAE American Samoa South Africa Bangladesh South Australia Buenos Aires, Argentina Taiwan Chandigarh, India Tanzania China Uganda Delhi, India Yangon, Myanmar Dubai, UAE Zanibar, Africa France CONSIDERING A BAG BAN OR FEE Aurora, CO Oahu County, HI Bonita Springs, FL Phoenix, AZ Forsyth, MO Portland, OR Maryland Sunnyvale, CA Miami, FL Milpitas, CA Iqaluit, Canada Nevada Northern Ireland New Haven, CT Uganda GENERAL REDUCTION EFFORT Amarillo, TX Hollister, CA Chicago, IL Homer, AK Delaware Plymouth, USA Spokane, WA 9 Texas (initiated educational program) Edmonton, Canada Tuscon, AZ Isle of Wight, UK Victoria, TX Sibu, Sarawak Malaysia Singapore OTHER COUNTRIES SUCCESSFUL BAG FEES USA Canberra, Australia Connecticut Hong Kong, China District of Columbia Melbourne, Australia Fairbanks, Alaska New Zealand Santa Monica, CA Romania South Wales, UK OTHER COUNTRIES Toronto, Canada PROPOSED BAG BANS OR FEES USA San Jose, CA Annapolis, MD Santa Cruz, CA Aspen, CO Seattle, WA Athens-Clarke County, GA Taos, NM Austin, TX Toledo, OH Baltimore, MD USA National Berkeley, CA West Bridgewater, USA Boston, MA California OTHER COUNTRIES Colorado Abu Dhabi, UAE Concord, MA Baa Atoll, Maldives Connecticut Cebu, Philippines Dallas, TX Edinburgh, Scotland District of Columbia Fort McMurray, Canada Encinitas, CA Guelph, Canada Fairfield, CT Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Florida Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu India Hawaii County, HI London, UK Iowa City, IA Malta Kaua'i County, HI Marshall Islands Maine Petersfield, England Marshall County, IA Philippines Mobile, AL South Australia, Australia Ocean City, NJ Vancouver, Canada Oregon Wales Pasadena, CA Winnipeg, Canada Redlands, CA BAG BAN DECLINED EI Paso, TX Manhattan Beach, CA Oakland, CA—passed; overturned Philadelphia, PA Red Bank, NJ Virginia 10 Kevin Firnstahl From:Citizen Support Center <dubuqueia@mycusthelp.net> Sent:Saturday, February 11, 2017 3:39 PM To:Kevin Firnstahl Subject:"Contact Us" inquiry from City of Dubuque website Contact Us Name: Address: 1959 LINCOLN AVE Ward: 3 Phone: Email: Kobliska784@gmail.com City Department: City Council Message: Sorry to disturb you again, I just have another quick question regarding the plastic bag debate. As a citizen, am I in any position to propose a counter plan to council or is that left to someone else? If so, I would like to know if I have any limitations. Also if you have a link or a pdf of what the city is allowed to spend and do, that would be greatly appreciated too. My best regards, Mason Kobliska. Click here to report this email as spam. 1 Kevin Firnstahl From:Citizen Support Center <dubuqueia@mycusthelp.net> Sent:Wednesday, February 08, 2017 1:46 PM To:Kevin Firnstahl Subject:"Contact Us" inquiry from City of Dubuque website Contact Us Name: JoEllen Reed Address: 3175 Pennsylvania Ave Apy 216 Ward: Phone: 563-582-7870 Email: sweetjojo100@yahoo.com City Department: City Council Message: Dear Mayor and City Council, I appreciate all you do for our city and your concerns for our environment. I am writing about banning plastic bags. Please don't. I live in a very large apartment building for those past age 55. We have a garbage bin and recyling bin in our garage. I use plastic bags to take down my garbage, newspaper, and whatever I recycle. I also use them in my wastebaskets. I never waste a plastic bag. If you ban plastic bags I will need to buy them, yet another cost I can't afford. Also, have you considered what would replace them. You are educating the public and this is working. I know many, including myself, who take back any bags not used. I also know I'm not alone in using plastic bags for many purposes. I would consider banning plastic bags to be overreach. Respecfully, JoEllen Reed Click here to report this email as spam. 1 Kevin Firnstahl From:Citizen Support Center <dubuqueia@mycusthelp.net> Sent:Tuesday, February 07, 2017 8:54 AM To:Kevin Firnstahl Subject:"Contact Us" inquiry from City of Dubuque website Contact Us Name: Address: Ward: Phone: Email: nobozojam@msn.com City Department: City Council Message: Couldn't a 5 cent per bag deposit like the current soda and beer can deposit be used for the plastic bag problem? Click here to report this email as spam. 1 Kevin Firnstahl From:Citizen Support Center <dubuqueia@mycusthelp.net> Sent:Saturday, February 11, 2017 9:50 PM To:Kevin Firnstahl Subject:"Contact Us" inquiry from City of Dubuque website Contact Us Name: Mason Kobliska Address: 1959 lincoln ave Ward: 3 Phone: 5634956309 Email: Kobliska784@gmail.com City Department: City Council Message: I'm writing this is regards to the upcoming decision to ban plastic bags in Dubuque. I would like to know if i would still have a chance to speak of the subject during the next city council meeting or if it is too late. I was not capable of getting to the last one (On the 6th) but hope to get to the meeting on the 20th. Any response or feedback would be greatly appreciated. My best reguards. Click here to report this email as spam. 1