Navajo Nation Bill Proposes Ban On Single-Use Plastic Bags

Published: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 8:15am
Updated: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 - 11:20am

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — A Navajo Nation lawmaker wants his colleagues to consider banning retailers on the reservation from single-use plastic bags.

Legislation that's up for public comment would ban plastic bags and impose a fee on paper grocery bags. It encourages retailers to provide reusable bags at little or no cost, or provide boxes to customers.

Jonathan Nez, the tribe's vice president-elect, is sponsoring the bill in the Navajo Nation Council. He must find a co-sponsor before he's sworn in as vice president on May 12 for the bill to move forward.

Violating the ban more than once would carry a financial penalty.

Arizona lawmakers recently voted to make it illegal for cities to impose bag bans, but the law doesn't affect the Navajo Nation or other American Indian tribes.

Business Science