Single-Use Plastic Bag Ordinance One Step From Approval In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN BOROUGH, PA — An ordinance that will regulate single-use plastic carry out
bags in the borough is one step away from final approval.

On Nov. 21, borough council voted unanimously to advertise the ordinance for adoption at its December meeting.

The ordinance will ban carry-out plastic bags and non-recyclable paper carry out bags from retail businesses, retail transactions, restaurants and at events in the borough.

The ordinance is aimed at reducing plastic waste in the environment; curbing litter in borough parks, streets and in the trees; protecting waterways from plastic pollution; reducing greenhouse gases; and promoting the use of reusable, compostable and recyclable materials.

Before advancing the ordinance to council, the borough’s Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) dropped from the ordinance a requirement on businesses to charge a fee for the use of paper bags, which business owners had opposed. The EAC also eliminated wording, which would have required shoppers to request a paper bag when checking out.

The ordinance also provides more time for business owners to comply with the ordinance and to deplete their existing inventories.

The ordinance is scheduled to take effect six months after adoption. Those six months will be used for public education, to prepare resources for businesses, and for the necessary purchasing and operational transitions.

The ordinance allows up to two six month extensions of time for implementation to allow businesses to deplete their supply of plastic bags.

Exempted from the ordinance are bags used to package bulk items such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains or candy; bags used to wrap meat and fish or bakery goods; a bag used to contain live animals such as fish and insects; laundry or dry cleaning bags; newspaper bags; and non-handled bags used to protect purchases.

The ordinance was developed by the Environmental Advisory Council with input from Penn Environment and from the town’s business community. The borough’s environment and recreation committee also took a big role in crafting the ordinance.

In other business, the council approved an ordinance creating a no parking zone on the East side of East Street north of Linden Avenue. The zone is in response to parked vehicles creating a traffic bottleneck with buses and vehicles accessing Linden Elementary School.

Councilman Larry Browne announced next year’s road paving/reconstruction schedule, which will include West Street (Court to Ashland), West Oakland Avenue (Main to Clinton), Spruce Street (North to Court), North Franklin Street (Doyle to Wood), North Church Street (Selner to Main) and the entire length of Golfview Drive and Holbains Alley.

Council also voted to apply for a COVID-19 ARPA PA Small Water and Sewer Program grant for the rehabilitation of the Maplewood Water Tank. The $424,864 grant would pay a substantial portion of the project, which is estimated to cost $499,840.

The grant would come from the Commonwealth Financing Authority.