Minneapolis Council Votes for Plastic Bag Ban, Paper Bag Fee

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The Minneapolis City Council has voted to ban plastic bags at store checkouts.

The council voted 10-3 Friday for the ban and to impose a 5-cent fee on each paper bag, exempting people getting government food benefits from the fee. Businesses can get around charging the fee by donating 5 cents to litter cleanup groups for each paper, compostable or reusable bag given out.

The ordinance exempts bags that don't have handles that are used to hold produce, flowers, newspapers and dry cleaning, among other items.

Ordinance supporters said a plastic bag ban will reduce litter and move the city nearer to its zero-waste goals.

The ban is set to take effect in June 2017.