WINDHAM, Maine — A Windham eighth-grader’s proposal to ban plastic bags in Maine has taken a baby step forward.

The Windham Town Council on Tuesday rejected an outright ban on plastic bags in the community as suggested by Sierra Yost, but did vote to send a resolution to the Legislature in Augusta to consider a statewide ban.

Yost says she made the proposal after finding out about the negative environmental impacts of plastic bags during a science project.

She tells WGME-TV that the council’s moves Tuesday were “a good step.”

The draft resolution asks retailers to stop offering single-use plastic shopping bags and certain paper bags, and encourages residents to use reusable shopping bags.