Prince Albert plastic bag ban put on hold due to pandemic

City council in Prince Albert, Sask., has decided to delay the city'sban on plastic bags.

Council voted last Novemberto approve the ban on plastic checkout bags used by retail stores, groceries and restaurants.

Many communities around North America have raised concerns about the environmental impact of single-use bags and have instituted similar bans to keep the plasticout of landfills.

In Prince Albert, fines and enforcement weresupposed to take effect on Aug. 1, but now due to the pandemic, that has been put off.

Mayor Gregg Dionne said the idea is to reduce the handling of reusable bags, which may contribute to the spread of COVID-19.

Many stores are offering plastic bags for free as a sanitary measure,he said.

Dionne saidfines will be suspended until the province's current state of emergency is over.