Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 24 OF THE DULUTH CITY CODE BY ADDING A NEW ARTICLE VII REQUIRING A FIVE CENTS CHARGE FOR CARRYOUT BAGS.
Body
BY COUNCILOR WESTERLUND:
The city of Duluth does ordain:
Section 1. That Chapter 24 of the Duluth City Code is hereby amended by adding a new Article VII as follows:
Article VII. Carryout Bags
Section 24-39. Findings of fact and statement of purpose
(a) The Duluth city council finds as follows:
1. Single use carryout bags are polluting city waterways and sewers, endangering wildlife, contributing to climate change, and causing unsightly litter; and
2. Single use carryout bags clog storm-water drains; and
3. Plastic single use carryout bags last for many years in community landfills and are a potential source of harmful chemical pollution: and
4. It is in the best interests of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens and visitors of Duluth to reduce the cost to the city of litter clean up and solid waste disposal and to protect our environment and our natural resources by reducing the distribution of single use carryout bags and incentivizing the use of reusable bags in the city.
(b) The purpose of this Article is to reduce cost of litter clean up and waste disposal and to improve the environment of Duluth by encouraging the use of reusable carryout bags by imposing a pass through fee on single use carryout bags for retail checkout of purchased goods.
Section 24-40. Definitions
(a) Carryout bag. Carryout bag means a plastic bag that is provided by a retail establishment at the check stand, cash register, point of sale or other point of departure to a customer for the purpose of transporting food or merchandise out of the establishment. Carryout bags do not include the following:
1. Any bag without handles used exclusively to carry produce, meats, other food items or merchandise to the point of sale inside a store or to prevent such items from coming into direct contact with other purchase item...
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