Saint John retailers will no longer be able to hand out single-use plastic bags at checkouts as of July 1.
Common Council passed the third and final reading of their plastic bag ban bylaw at Monday night’s meeting.
They have become the third municipality in Greater Saint John to do so after Quispamsis and Grand Bay-Westfield. The town of Rothesay is also in the process of passing its own plastic bag bylaw.
The Fundy Regional Service Commission requested that all municipalities in the Saint John region enact a ban by July 1.
Commission staff have said the market for single-use plastic has dried up, meaning an estimated 35 million bags head to the local landfill each year.
Coun. David Hickey, who tabled a motion requesting a ban last fall, believes progressive policy-making like this improves the city’s liveability.
“Bylaws like these play a big part in our growth agenda,” Hickey said during the March 8 council meeting. “They increase our attractiveness as a city that cares about our climate impact, that makes sure community conversations are becoming realities in our city, and I think that’s extremely positive for us.”
The plastic bag ban does not apply to certain items, including bags used to package loose bulk items or wrap frozen foods, meat, poultry or fish, among other things.
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