Loras College Honors Project Presentation - Single-Use Plastic Bags Copyright 2014
City of Dubuque Action Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Loras College Honors Project-Single-Use Plastic
Checkout Bags
SUMMARY: Loras College Honors Project Students Morgan Dolan,
Abigail Kirchner and Christine McDonald requesting to
address the City Council regarding recommendations
for single-use plastic checkout bags.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Council
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Correspondence Supporting Documentation
Environmental Photo Supporting Documentation
E-Mail Request Supporting Documentation
910,
® � LORAS COLLEGE"
TO: Dubuque City Council
FROM: Morgan Dolan, Abigail Kirchner, and Christine McDonald
SUBJECT: Reduce Single-Use Plastic Checkout Bag Usage in Dubuque, IA
DATE: November 21, 2016
PURPOSE
We, the above mentioned students, request the City of Dubuque to observe our recommendations on
single-use plastic checkout bags and work toward enacting policies that will reduce their harmful effects.
BACKGROUND
In 2014, it was reported that approximately 100 billion plastic bags were used in the United States per
year with only 5%being recycled. This leaves the remaining 95 billion plastic bags in landfills,
waterways, and the environment. When left in the environment, plastic bags as well as many other
plastics breakdown into small particles via photodegradation (i.e. breakdown by exposure to sunlight). ,
These particles, referred to as microplastics, absorb toxins which are then in turn consumed by marine
organisms and other aquatic animals therefore making their way through the food chain.,It has been
found that sea birds and mammals, such as seals, have consumed microplastics through the consumption
of fish.,Therefore, it is plausible that humans who consume these fish may be exposed to both the
microplastics and the toxins absorbed by the microplastics. Studies have found these toxins to be
endocrine disruptors in the human body, which upset the hormonal balance leading to an increased risk
for cancer, infertility, and improper growth and development.,
DISCUSSION
According to Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, "in the U.S.,the Mississippi River watershed is
likely one of the largest sources of oceanic plastic debris. As the Masterpiece on the Mississippi,
Dubuque contributes to this issue and therefore has a responsibility to reduce its contribution to this
pollution.
The Friends of the Mississippi River found that microplastics are building up on the riverbed of the
Mississippi River in the Minnesota area. As previously mentioned, these particles can be harmful if
consumed by fish and other aquatic animals.s
A 2011 study carried out by the Iowa DNR found that plastic retail bags made up 0.3%of all material
disposed of in Iowa landfills.,The Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency(DMASWA)
reported that 116,156 tons of waste entered the DMASWA landfill from July 1, 2015 -June 30, 2016.4
Applying the 0.3% statistic to this figure, approximately 348 tons of retail plastic bags entered the
DMASWA landfill in a single year.
In August 2015, Dubuque collected nearly 9 tons of"Unacceptables: Other"materials from curbside
recycling which included plastic bags,trash, etc.b As citizens of Dubuque,we would like the problem of
single-use plastic checkout bags to be further investigated to alleviate the issues addressed above
concerning the health and economic sustainability of our city and country. The following
recommendations could assist in combating these issues.
OPTIONS:
We respectfully request the members of the City Council to consider the following options and further
recommend that Option II be enacted as City of Dubuque policy:
1. Completely ban single-use plastic checkout bags in the City of Dubuque
11. Enact a Fee
A. Enact a 5-10 cent fee on the usage of single-use plastic checkout bags
B. Fee exemption for the elderly or individuals using WIC/EBT
C. Retail stores earning less than $1,000,000 in annual gross revenue are exempt.
1) These stores can participate on a voluntary basis
D. The revenue earned from the enacted fee:
1) Stores can keep a certain percentage
2) The City of Dubuque can keep a certain percentage for City Directed Funds
III. Take no action.
SOURCES:
1. http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/publiced/holidays/ReusableBags.htm
2. http://www.enn.com/2016/06/30/world/plastic-plague-oceans/
3. file:///C:/Users/md507777/Downloads/wastecharacterization20lLpdf
4. Email Communication with Beverly Wagner(Education and Communication Coordinator for
DMAS WA)
5. http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2016/04/04/pesky_plastic-the-true-harm-of-microplastics-in-the-
oceans/
6. The State of Dubuque's Curbside Recycling: Green Drinks Presentation(Expanded)By Paul Schultz,
Green Dubuque Board Member 2/11/16 in addition to clarifications provided by Paul Schultz
7. http://www.altemet.org/personal-health/toxic-traps-when-these-7-types-plastic-are-dangerous
8. http://www.startribune.com/report-finds-a-new-pollutant-tiny-bits-of-plastics-and-fiber-buildinggup-
in-the-mississippi/394295 501/
9. h tUs://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephanie_Wright6/publication/236096229 The physical impaa
cts of microplastics on marine organisms a review Environmental Pollution 178_483-
492/links/004635314902c4f012000000.pdf
10. http://conklelab.tamuce.edu/microplastiesint.httnl
The Detriments of Plastics to Wildlife
p 1 y�n i
0.1
r
. u.
f► .:-a' '�i�.�5n .gid.". �� .. �°
1
t
f,,,!
Kevin Firnstahl- Re: City Council Meeting Agenda
From: "Morgan L. Dolan" <Morgan.Dolan@loras.edu>
To: Kevin Firnstahl<Kfirnsta@cityofdubuque.org>
Date: 11/15/2016 2:43 PM
Subject: Re: City Council Meeting Agenda
CC: "Abigail R. Kirchner" <Abigail.Kirchner@loras.edu>, "Christine M.McDonal...
Attachments: Memo.pdf; Supporting Document.pdf
Dear Kevin Firnstahl,
We are requesting to be placed on the agenda for the City Council meeting on 11/21/16 as an Action
Item. Our purpose is to present on the negative environmental and health implications of single-use
plastic checkout bags and to offer recommendations for Council consideration. We have been in
contact with Mayor Buol on this matter and would like to allow for no more than 10 minutes to
present plus any necessary time for questions. Attached you will find a memo that highlights our
presentation along with an additional supporting document that we would like to have distributed to
the City Council prior to the meeting. Please contact us if you have any questions, otherwise we look
forward to seeing you on 11/21/16 at 6:OOpm.
Morgan Dolan
2520 Willow Brook Drive
(563) 258-4663
Abigail Kirchner
575 Loras Blvd
(608) 792-7975
Christine McDonald
1450 Alta Vista St.
Loras Box 993
(608) 406-7861
Sincerely,
Morgan Dolan, Abigail Kirchner, and Christine McDonald
/// /,/A2
Mississippi River Watershed Funneling into Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone
MISSOUR
PLA TE RIVER)
I\ i
ARKANSAS
RKANSAS;
--
! I
OHIO RIVER
(TENNESSEE RIVER
RED RIVER
HYPDXIC ZONE
Mississippi River
Mississippi River
Watershed
Dead Zone
Dubuque, IA