Detroit City Council Backs State Law Repeal to Let Cities Ban Plastic Bags

On Tuesday, October 7, Detroit's City Council cast a united vote supporting the removal of Michigan's state restrictions on local plastic regulation. The move aims to restore city authority over disposable plastic policies.

"It costs millions throughout the state of Michigan to manage and maintain single use plastic," said City Councilmember Scott Benson at the Detroit City Council meeting, as reported by Planet Detroit. He leads Detroit's Green Task Force.

PA 389, enacted in 2017 by the Republican-led Legislature, blocks towns and cities from setting limits on plastic bags and containers. The law took effect after passing in 2016.

This March, State Rep. Morgan Foreman and Sen. Sue Shink introduced HB 4299 and SB 195. Their bills would strike down state restrictions, putting control back in local hands.

Plastic waste plagues Michigan waters. Studies show over 22 million pounds of plastic trash flows into the Great Lakes yearly, as per Rochester Institute of Technology. Scientists have spotted plastic fragments across all five lakes, based on 2016 findings from the Great Lakes Research journal.

Detroit's sustainability office backed the council's stance. "The repeal will allow municipalities to make thoughtful decisions about how to best manage materials and the costs they create," stated the office.

Benson stressed how plastic bags jam recycling equipment. He raised red flags about tiny plastic bits that enter human bodies and might cause illness.

Green Living Science head Natalie Jakub sees Detroit's stand as vital. "In doing so, we can set an example for our peer communities in other parts of the country so that they can follow," she told the council.

KT Andresky, who works with the Green Task Force's policy team, pushed for cuts in throwaway plastics to slash waste costs and protect nature. The group now targets ways to cut fossil fuel use in plastic production.

The council cited research showing microscopic plastic pieces can pass into brain matter. These bits turn up in human brains, placentas, and organs. Studies, including one published by the National Library of Medicine, link them to cancer, damaged nerves, and reduced fertility.

Want to weigh in? Contact your state lawmakers about these bills. The Legislature hasn't scheduled votes yet.