At a city council workshop Tuesday, the board heard from the city's task force assigned to studying whether or not to ban the use of single-use plastic bags.
The task force began its work in January 2020, and a survey that year revealed that 71% of Wichitans agreed with banning their use.
Financially, the city could see a savings of over $309 thousand a year by banning the bags. It would also foster a healthier environment and cleaner city as the bags often end up as trash along roadways, getting in trees, bushes and waterways and can be eaten by wildlife.
Around 35 local companies and even larger ones like Best Buy, Trader Joe's and Costco have made the move. A representative from Kroger said their company plans to transition from single use bags by 2025, using a cloth or a heavier grade plastic bag, the latter of which can be used around 125 times. Paper bags aren't seen by the company as a viable replacement, thanks to their own impact on the environment.
There's no word on what the city's next steps will be regarding the issue.
