There's a chance plastic bags could become scarce or even nonexistent in the city Brookings in the future.

KSFY TV is reporting that the city of Brookings is researching ways it can reduce the use of plastic bags, or maybe even eliminate them altogether.

The initiative is part of a move by the city of Brookings to help save the world's oceans, lakes, and rivers by examining the effect plastic bags have on our environment.

Jennifer McLaughlin, a member of the Brookings Sustainability Council told KSFY, "When they do degrade, they go into smaller pieces and animals eat them. They get into our waters, our soils, and cause other environmental issues."

That is why the Brookings Sustainability Council is currently researching various ways of reducing the use of single-use plastic bags in the community.

Right now, the council is attempting to educate the public on the negative impact plastic bags have on the environment, and what people can use as viable alternatives.

According to KSFY, the council has proposed a series of reward programs for returning bags to businesses, implementing fees for using plastic bags, and completely eliminating them.

The crackdown on the use of plastic bags could be just the start of reducing the use of all single-use plastics.

The plastic bag reduction process is still very much a work in progress. The Brookings Sustainability Council plans to provide a second presentation in the coming months.

Source: KSFY TV

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