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MOAB — After a unanimous town council vote Monday, Moab will become the second Utah city to ban single-use plastic bags.
All five City Council members approved the ordinance Monday, according to City Council member Tawny Knuteson-Boyd. The measure will take effect on Jan. 1, according to council documents published on the city’s website.
City officials are planning to do some outreach and education in the community before the ordinance takes effect, Knuteson-Boyd said.
The ordinance bans all plastic bags that are under 2.25 millimeters thick and are “provided by a vendor to a customer at the point of sale.”
Store owners are encouraged to provide reusable bags, boxes or paper bags made of at least 40 percent recycled content. Violators of the ordinance will be subject to a fine of up to $250 for the first offense and a fine up to $500 for subsequent violations within a year of the first, according to the ordinance.
Not included in the ban are bags provided by pharmacists that contain prescription drugs, newspaper, door hanger, dry cleaning, food storage, garbage, pet waste and yard waste bags. Reusable cloth bags with handles, as well as plastic bags that are more than 2.25 millimeters thick also will be allowed.
Also allowed will be bags used to package bulk items such as produce, nuts, grains and candy, the ordinance states.
Park City became the first Utah city to ban plastic bags last year.
