The objectives of a proposed plastic bag ban in Minneapolis are worthwhile. Most of us would like to see less plastic littering our streets and floating in our waterways. But the suggested ordinance as written may not be the most effective way to achieve those goals.

Earlier this week, a City Council committee approved a proposal to ban Minneapolis stores from giving customers goods in plastic bags. The plan, which also would require businesses to charge a 5-cent fee for paper bags — is expected to be heard by the full council on April 1.

If approved, the ordinance drafted by Council Members Cam Gordon and Abdi Warsame would take effect in April 2017 and cover most businesses, with exceptions for bags used to wrap produce, flowers, baked goods, takeout food, newspapers and dry-cleaning or laundry. In addition, customers receiving public assistance would be exempt from the 5-cent charge for paper bags.

The hope is that more shoppers would opt for reusable bags if faced with fewer — or costlier — alternatives.

But some Minneapolis retailers have expressed legitimate concerns about a city-only plan, arguing that a statewide solution would be the best way to keep shoppers from simply crossing a city border to avoid bans. Other store representatives have said their costs and consumer prices would increase because paper and reusable bags take more energy and are more expensive to produce. And some have argued that there are good reasons to give consumers more options while making it easier to recycle plastic bags.

Following a lengthy public hearing this week, the proposed ban appears to have enough support to pass the 13-member council.

Americans use an estimated 100 billion plastic bags every year. And in Minnesota, bags and other plastic wrappings, accounted for about 192,600 tons of trash in 2013, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

In response, an estimated 200 U.S. communities and some countries already ban the bags. A California ban was supposed to go into effect last year, but implementation is on hold after bag manufacturers successfully lobbied to place the measure on the November 2016 ballot. Rather than adopt complete bans, Dallas and Washington, D.C., require shoppers to pay 5 cents for both paper and plastic bags — an idea that deserves more consideration in Minneapolis.

Austin, Texas, passed a single-use plastic shopping bag ban in 2013, assuming that environmental benefits would follow. But two years later, an assessment commissioned by the city found an unintended effect: Consumers now throw away heavier-duty reusable plastic bags at high rates.

In Minneapolis, Council Member Andrew Johnson expressed support for efforts to reduce plastic waste but said he plans to offer an amendment that would make the policy more "consumer and business friendly" while having broader impact on the full range of city litter.

Efforts to reduce plastic waste are laudable. However, the City Council should carefully review Johnson's proposal and ensure that the final draft of the ordinance effectively balances the needs of consumers, business and the environment.