Single-Use Plastic Bag Reduction Strategy Update Copyrighted
May 1, 2017
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 6.
ITEM TITLE: Single-Use Plastic Bag Reduction Strategy Update
SUMMARY: Correspondence from Loras College Honor Project
students Morgan Dolan, Margaret Clements, Abigail
Kirchner, and Christine McDonald that provides an update
from their November 21, 2016 presentation to Council on
their research into reducing single-use plastic checkout
bags in Dubuque.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Loras College Corresondence re Plastic Bag Reduction Supporting Documentation
Project
910,
® � LORAS COLLEGE"
TO: Dubuque City Council
FROM: Morgan Dolan, Margaret Clements, Abigail Kirchner, and Christine McDonald
SUBJECT: Reduce Single-Use Plastic Checkout Bag Usage in Dubuque, IA
DATE: April 26, 2016
PURPOSE
We, the above mentioned students, would like to update the City of Dubuque as well as City Council
Members on the state of single-use plastic checkout bags in Dubuque, IA following the February 6, 2017
City Council Meeting.
BACKGROUND
On November 21, 2016, we presented to City Council on our recommendations of reducing single-use
plastic checkout bags through the implementation of a fee. This proposal was passed on to City Staff who
recommended to focus on education as implementing a fee could pose legal risk to the City of Dubuque.
At the February 6', 2017 City Council Meeting, City Council voted 4-3 to have an ordinance drafted that
would ban plastic bags in Dubuque, IA. The Iowa enactment of House File 295 forbids cities in Iowa
from banning, or implementing regulations on, single-use plastic bags.
DISCUSSION
Following the February 6', 2017 City Council Meeting, we began working with Sustainability
Coordinator, Cori Burbach, on public education.We reached out to and met with Dubuque businesses to
disseminate educational materials regarding strategies to reduce single-use plastic bags at the business
level. Additionally, we gathered information from these business owners about any store policies they
may have that contribute to the reduction of single-use plastic bags. The purpose of this was to gain an
idea of the willingness and/or commitment Dubuque business owners had to this issue. After conducting
meetings with Dubuque businesses,the City of Dubuque was going to implement a marketing campaign
to highlight the positive work businesses are doing in Dubuque to reduce single-use plastic bags.
However, with the lack of responses from businesses because of corporate policies, we were unable to
collect enough data for this to take place. At this point in time,the information gathered is currently being
held by Cori Burbach for any community inquiries that may arise.
Thank you for your time and commitment to the betterment of Dubuque, IA. Grassroots education
appears to be Dubuque's only option to combat single-use plastic bags.