Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission_Petroleum Based Plastic BagsAugust 30, 2010
Honorable Mayor Roy Buol and
City Council Members
City Hall
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque IA 52001
Dear Mr. Mayor and Council Members:
At its August 2010 meeting, the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission voted
to recommend the City encourage retailers not to use (petroleum- based) plastic bags.
They further recommend that the City adopt a policy of recommending the phasing out
completely /minimizing the use of plastic bags through such incentives as user fees,
incentivizing retailers to use alternative bags, and community education regarding the
impact of plastic bag use. The ultimate goal would be to eliminate the use of retail
plastic bags by 2014.
The Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission is willing to work with staff and
community groups to research various options including outreach, incremental fees, 1
disincentives for use and research articles such as the approaches taken in San
Francisco and Ireland.
Please consider adopting such a policy for the decreased /eliminated use of plastic
bags.
Sincerely,
Way e Klostermann, Chair
Environmental Stewardship Advisory Commission