5 Cent Bag Fee Begins In Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis ordinance requiring retail establishments to charge a fee of at least 5 cents for carryout bags officially began Jan. 1.

The goals of this requirement are to:

• Encourage shoppers to bring their own bags.
• Protect resources used to produce paper and plastic bags.
• Reduce litter.
• Reduce waste: Minnesotans throw away 87,000 tons of plastic bags every year and recycle less than 5 percent of them.
• Keep plastic bags from clogging the gears in recycling facilities, which workers spend four-six hours a day removing.

Exemptions include bags used for produce, bulk foods, small items, carryout restaurants, farmers markets, food banks, retail establishments that do not possess a cash register; secondhand bags, bags sold in packages, dry cleaning bags, bags given out with no transaction; bags given at hospitals, car dealerships and car washes; and bags used for litter cleanup.

People can call 311 about retailers who aren’t complying with the ordinance after Jan. 1. For the first six months, the city will work on educating with no fines, according to a news release.

This ordinance came through extensive outreach with businesses and business groups.