Missouri Bill Targets Single-Use Plastics in Parks

0:00A new bill in the Missouri House aims to tackle single-use plastics by grocery bags and disposable utensils. House Bill 3193 would ban them at concession stands and shops and state parks if it passes. It also scraps the state's current rule blocking local bans, giving cities the power to decide for themselves. Sponsor. State Rep Colin Wellencamp from District 105 says this keeps plastic waste out of our clean parks and key rivers like the Missouri and Mississippi. Missouri funnels a ton of runoff into those waterways making pollution a big local headache. At a public hearing Thursday in Jefferson City, six folks mostly environmentalists testified in favor, while one from the beverage association pushed, back. Supporters call it a solid first step against plastic choking our ecosystems. Recycling pros at a Kansas City Plan agree, saying bags jam machines and contaminate loads. That Harrisonville facility processes 1100 tons of curbside recycling weekly but tosses nearly 22% because of junk like those.

1:04Bags. Workers there hate how they fly around and shut everything down. Local groups like Mark just updated recycling guys to cut confusion. Grocery bags don't go in curbside bins but drop off spots as stores do the trick. As this bill advances, it could lighten the load on recyclers and clean up our rivers for good. From your city, powered by AI, this is Kansas News Today. I'm Corey with the story.