"We do want to move forward with this plan, but we want a plan that makes sense, so I would support a one-month layover," City Council President Amy Brendmoen said.

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Council members discussed the need for more time for educational outreach to businesses.

Supporters of the measure say it will cut down the amount of waste going into landfills, while critics argue the ban will cost businesses more.

At Shamrock's on West 7th Street in St. Paul, compostable to-go containers have been in use for three years. Owners made the switch on their own, doing their part to be more environmentally friendly.

But if the city approves a plastic packaging ban, it would mandate all restaurants use recyclable or compostable take-out containers.

"It would be nice to be trusted as a responsible business owner to make decisions on our own without somebody telling us what we had to do," Shamrock's owner Ted Casper said.

Casper said compostable containers cost three times the price of the old ones, but it's working for them... for now.

"This may not work for us forever, this might become unaffordable as increases everywhere else continue to rise," he said.

The City Council is now expected to vote on the issue on Nov. 7.