PROVO — A Brigham Young University student is looking to reduce the environmental and economic costs of single-use plastic bags by pushing for a 10 cent fee.
The Daily Herald reported Sunday that Annie Ayre has been reaching out to Provo officials and businesses after researching the effects of plastic bags on the city.
According to Ayre's research, about 940 million plastic bags are used in the state each year, with only about 1% getting recycled.
Ayre's proposal for the fee says landfills and recycling facilities spend about $1.5 million each year on maintenance and litter control. About 80% of that cost is linked to plastic bags.
Provo City Councilman George Handley says the city needs to have a conversation about plastic bags and he plans to sponsor an ordinance on the topic.