Two local students made their pitch for a city-wide plastic bags ban to North Battleford city council Monday.
Leah Beausoleil and Addyson Nyholt, Grade 6 students at École Monseigneur Blaise Morand, had put on a class project at Territorial Place Mall informing the public about the dangers of plastic bags and to promote the use of reusable grocery bags. It was part of their class project on how to change the world.
Their display caught the attention of local city councillor Kent Lindgren who encouraged them to make a presentation to the entire council.
In speaking to council, the two students called for a plastic bags ban across the city. They made the point that plastic was harmful to the planet, that a trillion bags are wasted around the world, and that it takes more than 400 years for the bags to break down.
In response to the presentation, Mayor Ryan Bater noted the issue of single-use plastic bags was “timely” for council.
He noted the recycling company they work with has been unable to take plastic bags for recycling because there was no longer a market for them, so plastic bags are now going in the grey bins and headed straight to the landfill.
“This is posing a challenge to the community, and this is happening all across Canada,” said Bater.
Bater added that it was worthwhile to look at what other cities were doing. He noted that both City Manager Randy Patrick and himself were heading to a City Mayor’s Caucus meeting in Estevan for discussions the next day.
Bater pledged to raise the issue there, and suggested something could happen on a provincial level.
In general, the reaction of council was positive to the presentation from the two students. “It’s really great to see two young leaders in our community,” said Councillor Lindgren.
