Plastic bag ban - Proposed changes and possible vote

OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — A few weeks ago, Omaha's City Council began discussing a ban on plastic bags being used at grocery stores. The proposed ordinance would impact small grocers and not big box stores like Wal-Mart. Today, that might change.

Back when we broke the story, Council Member Pete Festersen told us that he and other members had grown tired of seeing discarded bags blowing through Omaha's streets and that he wanted the ordinance extended to the big box stores as well.

"In the metropolitan area alone, about 280 million plastic bags are used every year, so that's about 200 or 300 per person, which certainly seems to be out of control," Festersen said.

Mayor Jean Stothert also said she'd be in favor of a ban.

The council will meet this afternoon to discuss the proposed ordinance. You can watch it live on our Facebook page, streaming devices, the 3 News Now Mobile App and on our website.