Philadelphia City Council Approves Single-use Plastic Bags Ban

The Philadelphia City Council just passed a bill that would ban single-use plastic bags. The ban is expected to take effect July 2, 2020, pending the final signature from the city’s mayor.

Philly Voice reports that the ban will impact all grocery stores, convenience stores, department stores, restaurants, farmers’ market and delivery services, among others. In addition, council members nixed a provision to impose a 15-cent fee on all other single-use bags, saying it would “disproportionately impact the city’s poorer residents,” the report notes.

Philly Voice has more:

Philadelphia City Council passed a bill Thursday that will ban retailers from providing customers with single-use plastic bags, ending a 12-year effort to enact the environmentally minded legislation.

The ban spearheaded by Councilman Mark Squilla, who pushed for it previously on four separate occasions, would take effect July 2, 2020, pending the final signature from Mayor Jim Kenney.

Businesses affected include supermarkets, convenience stores, service stations, department stores, dollar stores, clothing stores, restaurants, food trucks, farmers' markets, dry cleaners, and delivery services.

Read the full article here.