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1 could to remove nondegradable nonreturnable and nonrecyclable packaging <br /> 2 from the waste stream. The maker of the motion indicated one of the <br /> 3 other reasons he favored the removal of plastics was because most of <br /> 4 them were produced from petro chemicals which were also environmentally <br /> 5 damaging. The Councilmember said he believed that as long as plastics <br /> 6 can't be reused, he could see no reason to continue their use. <br /> 7 Mayor Sundland said he agreed with both of them, but thought the issue <br /> 8 of environmental preservation from environmentally acceptable packaging <br /> 9 should really be handled by the state legislature to avoid a "hodge <br /> 10 -podge" of ordinances which might, in the long run, result in the issue <br /> 11 not getting the acceptance it deserved. Councilmember Makowske said she <br /> 12 agreed that this concept should be statewide but thought the fact that <br /> 13 cities were passing these ordinances would give a "clear message" and <br /> 14 impetus to the state legislature to act quicker. Councilmember Marks . <br /> 15 indicated he didn't think what St. Anthony did was going to make a big <br /> 16 difference in the overall scheme of things, but he perceived the real <br /> 17 value lay in a lot of municipalities passing ordinances like this'. <br /> 18 Councilmember Enrooth•.agreed that it was important to have support of <br /> 19 the larger cities' actions around the first and second ring suburbs <br /> 20 because a voice which has some consensus to it might convince the <br /> 21 manufacturers to voluntarily change back to more environmentally <br /> 22 acceptable packaging like glass, etc. <br /> 23 Mr. Childs said both Minneapolis and St. Paul wanted the state to take <br /> 24 over the legislation and had in fact requested they do so. Those <br /> 25 cities had also perceived the need for federal help as well. However, <br /> 26 he pointed out that Minneapolis had licensed food establishments prior • <br /> 27 to passing their ordinance which gave them the mechanism for regulation <br /> 28 which St. Anthony currently .doesn't have. Since revocation of such <br /> 29 licenses .is--the- penalty-for -non-compliance, -the`-City- lacks the 'tool-for- <br /> 30 enforcement which is an issue on which staff would need further <br /> 31 guidance. The City Manager also pointed out that Minneapolis has a <br /> 32 Health Commissioner who is charged with enforcing the process, and had <br /> 33 also set up a process for establishing rules and regulations, as well <br /> 34 as an Advisory Committee on Environmental Acceptable Packaging to <br /> 35 oversee the process. He' suggested it might be beneficial for St. <br /> 36 Anthony to meet with Minneapolis officials to see whether in light of <br /> 37 St. Anthony's small size and proximity, requests for commercially <br /> 38 acceptable packaging can be referred to the Minneapolis agencies which <br /> 39 are already in existence. The Manager also sought Council suggestions <br /> 40 about how enforcement could be handled. It was agreed that the food and <br /> 41 beverage industry would be lobbying strongly against having to spend <br /> 42 millions of dollars to retool their plants. However, Mr. Childs said, <br /> 43 he perceived those industries always had the options of making their <br /> 44 packaging recyclable or creating markets for the kinds of plastics they <br /> 45 are now using. <br /> . .46 The option of having a deposit charged on containers to make them <br /> 47 returnable was also explored. <br /> 10 <br />