Minnesota YMCA Youth in Government
Model Legislature
BILL #: 3100
Download PDFBE IT ENACTED BY THE YOUTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA YOUTH LEGISLATURE –
An act to
establish a statewide composting program and ban single-use plastic bags to improve environmental sustainability in
Minnesota.
SECTION I - PURPOSE
This purpose is to decrease the amount of garbage that goes into landfills, encourage sustainability
throughout Minnesota, and protect the state's nature and animals from plastic pollution. This ensuring a clean, healthy,
and sustainable environment for everyone who lives there.
SECTION II - JUSTIFICATION
Plastic pollution is a major cause of damage to Minnesota's nature, it affects the water sources and the
animals. Disposable plastic bags are usually discarded as litter, are hardly recyclable, and remain in nature for
centuries. On the other hand, composting have the potential to remove a large portion of organic waste from dumps, thus
lessening the production of greenhouse gases and yielding nutrient-rich soil. This bill helps with lessening such
environmental damages and encouraging a circular economy locally.
SECTION III - DEFINITIONS
Pollution: The introduction of harmful materials into the environment.
Recyclable: Capable of being processed to be used again.
Centuries: Periods of one hundred years.
Composting: A process that turns organic waste into nutrient-rich soil conditioner.
Organic: Derived from living matter; in waste management, typically food scraps and yard waste.
Dumps: Places where waste is discarded; landfills.
SECTION IV - FUNDING
Funding for the statewide composting program and enforcement of the plastic bag ban shall be sourced from a combination
of state environmental grants, a minimal fee imposed on alternative bags provided by retailers and fines collected from
violations of this Act.
SECTION V – PENALTIES/ENFORCEMENT
Retailers found in violation of the single-use plastic bag ban shall receive a warning for the first offense, followed
by fines of up to $100 for the second offense, and up to $500 for subsequent offenses.
People found violating the ban will get a warning on first try, followed by getting fined up to $100 for the second
time. After that every time getting caught will lead to $500 dollar fine. Companies found selling one use bags will also
get fined too.
SECTION VI – EFFECTIVE DATE
On new Years eve but it does not matter what time it happens.