Mendota Student Wants To Reduce Plastic Bag Use In Minnesota

MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN— A Mendota Heights student started a chapter of an organization in Minnesota to advocate for reducing plastic waste.

Chloe Johnson, a Rosemount resident but a junior in Mendota Heights, started the Minnesota chapter of global organization Bye Bye Plastic Bags in October.

BBPB was started in Indonesia in 2013 and now has over 50 teams globally, Johnson said.

Johnson, president of Minnesota’s chapter, said her organization has five board members since its beginning in October.

Johnson shared with Patch that she has always been passionate about sustainability.

“I’ve always been passionate about creating sustainable change in my community, and really fostering an excitement for progress in terms of the changes that we can make, just as young people and I came across this organization as I was researching environmental organizations,” Johnson said.

Before starting the chapter, Johnson told Patch she went through an interview process and also called local stores and restaurants to find out about their plastic bag usage. She said she also did research to find out where her own garbage ends up.

Johnson said the organization regularly gives presentations at schools in the area.

“We really just want to bring as many young people to the table in terms of getting their interest for who we are and what our organization does, and involving them, because they themselves are change-makers,” Johnson said.

Johnson was recently awarded an Earth Day Scholarship from the National Society of High School Scholars Foundation to use for the organization, NSHSS said.

Johnson said she believes it is important for young people to care about sustainability and be part of the solution for the current climate crisis.

“It's not only a passion of mine, but it's also an obligation of mine to help and even become part of the next generation that believes in the power of making small changes with a big passion behind it, which will eventually accumulate into society of change-makers,” Johnson said.