Checkout Plastic Bag Elimination UpdateMasterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Checkout Plastic Bag Elimination
DATE: December 14, 2010
Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan is providing information on staff progress
regarding the City Council directive to eliminate checkout plastic bag usage by 2014.
6
Miael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mary Rose Corrigan, RN, Public Health Specialist
Dubuque
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All- America City
1
2007
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Millige i1y Manager
FROM: Mary Rose Corrigan, `RN, Public Health Specialist
SUBJECT: Checkout Plastic Bag Elimination
DATE: December 10, 2010
Dubuque
held
AA- America City
2007
INTRODUCTION
This memorandum provides staff progress regarding the Council directive to eliminate
checkout plastic bag usage by 2014.
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 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
The following stakeholders were asked to provide assistance:
• Eric Dregne, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque /Dubuque 2.0
• Bev Wagner, DMASWA Educator
The task force proposed gathering input from the community through a series of
stakeholder group meetings to include grocers, other retailers and environmental
groups. To date, we have met with local grocers, other retailers, as recommended by
the Chamber of Commerce, and we plan to meet with consumers and representatives
of groups who have measured 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 is to gather what current retailers 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. Local
groups and businesses are already developing their own initiatives, outreach and
incentives to reduce plastic bag use.
Research has been conducted in -house and is ongoing regarding various communities
and jurisdictions that have implemented plastic bag use policies, their scope, success,
incentives, enforcement, etc.
As we gather stakeholder group input and research other communities, the task force
will formulate a phased action plan for Council consideration.
CITY COUNCIL ACTION
No City Council action is required at this time. This memorandum is to provide an
update.
MRC /cj
cc: Cori Burbach, Sustainability Coordinator
Paul Schultz, Resource Management Coordinator
Eric Dregne, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
Bev Wagner, Solid Waste Educator