St. Albert could ban single-use plastics outright or limit certain products, depending on what its research turns up.
The city is looking at how to deal with these items, like plastic straws and bags, after staff were given the green light by council Monday night to find out what items are being distributed, used and disposed of in St. Albert. Staff will also look at other areas, like business licence fees and whether other municipalities are charging higher fees for big businesses that distribute single-use item.
Mayor Cathy Heron said many communities in Alberta and across the country have already paved the way to address single-use items.
“We’re so far behind and it is too bad it has taken us this long to get this report in front of us,” she said. “What needs to be said is that more than anything, this is not just a municipality responsibility, this is a resident responsibility. People hate it, but it requires habit change and a conscious effort.”
The city will also be reaching out to other organizations like the St. Albert Chamber of Commerce as well as looking internally at how staff can reduce single-use items.
Phase one of the project is priced at $96,000, which will be coming out of the stabilization reserve.
A report is expected to come back to council by the second quarter of 2021. This will also be when council will consider what next steps to take.
Coun. Ken MacKay called it prudent and responsible for the city to take the steps to figure out how a possible ban could impact residents.
“We need the information before we can actually make a decision regardless of what we already believe,” he added.
Council heard that many communities in Canada are moving toward banning plastic bags while others are exploring and planning reduction strategies, including Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. St. Albert also joined other Alberta municipalities in February in researching ways to shift the costs of managing recyclable materials back to those who produce them.
While council was unanimous in its support for the work plan, there was some debate over the inclusion of $15,000 for an online video campaign. The city would essentially produce YouTube-type movies to post online to engage and education residents.
Coun. Natalie Joly didn’t believe the videos could be effective in achieving that goal, noting the city’s previous online videos never fared all that well.
“$15,000 for 10 videos that might (reach) 300 people ... I don’t think is an effective use of municipal funds,” she said. “I’d absolutely be open to contributing to a regional project that looks at videos that are really engaging. We’re not going to be able to make them for $15,000. It would have to be a regional approach.”
Joly’s attempt to remove the video project failed in a 5-2 vote with Coun. Shenna Hughes in support.
Coun. Ray Watkins said council asked administration to come back with a plan and that includes the videos.
“We say it may hit 200 people (but) that’s just a guess,” he added. “We don’t know. It could hit 3,000 people in the end.”
