OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Mayor Stothert is asking members to consider doing a litter study before making a decision on a plastic bag ban.
In a letter to the Omaha City Council, she again expressed her opposition to the current proposal, which the city council is expected to vote on Tuesday.
She says the research would help the city determine the best approach to reducing litter and waste.
She cited one of the most recent litter studies conducted in New Jersey as a example. It shows that plastic bags made up fewer than 1 percent of litter.
"If retailers cannot use plastic bags, they will likely not accept plastic bags for recycling either, which eliminates an opportunity to recycle many types of plastic bags including dry cleaning, bread bags and even Amazon pouches," Stothert said in the letter.
Stothert says she supports a resolution requiring all businesses using "t-shirt" style plastic bags to phase them out over a period of time while the city studies the environmental issue.
