Back to SearchPrince Albert's plastic retail checkout bag ban will be implemented starting October 12, 2021. The original ban, set to be enforced in August of 2020, was suspended following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. With Saskatchewan restrictions now lifted, Prince Albert City Council has approved another three-month phase-in period to give businesses an opportunity to plan for the change.
The bylaw to ban the bags 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 Sobeys/Safeway implementing the change locally already.
"I'm glad to be back on track with this ban," 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 once again be sending communication to business owners to outline new regulations and the revised implementation date. 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 distribute 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.
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. Landfill expansions carry multi-million dollar price tags. By banning plastic, we can reduce the waste added to the landfill, lengthening the life of each landfill cell.
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/plastics.
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Mayor Greg Dionne
(306) 953-4300
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