5.2. ECCSR 05-18-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Community Festival To conclude the Community Sustainability Month, and also ending the plastic bag turn-in week, Elk River will host a 3-day weekend community festival. This event is the climax of the Community Sustainability Month, where the businesses who participated and notably reduced plastic bag use will be announced. The festival will also generate revenue for the city to offset some costs involved with the Sustainability Month as well as educating its members on sustainable behavior. In Store Advertising Signage in the stores has been very important for other cities and counties that have banned plastic bags or imposed fees on them. We would suggest that all retailers that use plastic bags put up signs a number of days before the ordinance takes effect. A warning period should give the consumers a fair amount of time to expect the fee, rather than being surprised at the checkout.8 The more advertisement that is done the easier the transition will be. We want the consumers to be aware of the change and know why it is happening. As for the businesses, they will also be educated in advance on what they can do to help make this ordinance successful.9 The businesses will be given an informational letter laying out the regulations being imposed and when they will take effect. Any business that does not abide by the regulations will be fined. In order to eliminate confusion for both consumers 8 This is one way to keep consumers pleased while we make the transition. Signs should be displayed very clearly and often throughout the stores.We also suggest that the retailers include this advertisement on the receipts in order to really notify consumers. Our suggestion for the advertisement is: ATTENTION ELK RIVER SHOPPERS: "Starting in a number of days,the City of Elk River will be starting a new recycling program.There will now be a fee of 20 cents on each plastic bag you use for your items.Thank you for your cooperation during this change." 9 Companies could begin saving and collecting bags much earlier in the year,which would inevitably end up in a competition for who can recycle the most bags every year.Possibly different types of tiers for different types of business:retail stores,grocery stores,and maybe small businesses under 10 employees.