Prince Albert bans plastic checkout bags

Prince Albert, Sask. –

Prince Albert City Council has formally approved a ban on the use of plastic checkout bags by retail and food service businesses in Prince Albert through the adoption of Bylaw 33 of 2019. The ban takes effect immediately with fines and enforcement to take effect August 1, 2020 which will allow for a six-month period for businesses to familiarize themselves with the bylaw regulations and make changes to accommodate the move away from plastic.  

The bylaw has been in the works since the summer of 2019 when an online survey was conducted. Results indicated that 75% of respondents were in favour of the ban. Consultations with local grocery stores also indicated that many were already considering the change with Sobey’s announcing a Canada-wide ban by the end of January 2020.

 “We are joining other cities in Canada in our move to ban plastic checkout bags,” said Mayor Greg Dionne. “We have a throw away culture. This ban is a first step in what needs to be a rethinking of what we are producing and how much we are sending to the landfill. I know many people have found a second use for some of these plastic bags, but the truth is that many are ending up in our landfill and littered throughout our community.”

The City will be sending communication to business owners to outline new regulations. The ban will apply to plastic bags (including biodegradable plastic) distributed at the checkout counter. There are a number of exceptions provided for in-store use of plastic bags such as items purchased in bulk.

Businesses will continue to be permitted to distrubute paper and reusable bags for customers that may need it. “The ideal scenario is for customers to regularly bring their own reusable bag, but paper can be an option if required,” added Dionne. “It will be an adjustment but I have no doubt we are up to the challenge.”

In Prince Albert alone it is estimated that at least 3 million plastic bags are handed out each year, not including regional customers, with many ending up in the Prince Albert landfill and scattered throughout the community. A new cell at the Prince Albert landfill is estimated to cost $3 million.

The goal of this bylaw is to change consumer behaviour. Saskatchewan produces the second highest amount of waste per capita in Canada. By switching to reusable bags the amount of plastic waste ending up in our landfill, recycling collection systems and littered throughout our community will be minimized.

Learn more about the plastic checkout bag ban on the City’s website, www.citypa.ca.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Mayor Greg Dionne
(306) 953-4300

Public Works
(306) 953-4900