Single-Use Plastics Ban Moves Ahead In Haverford

HAVERFORD TOWNSHIP, PA — Single-use plastic items will soon be harder to come by in Haverford Township, as the Board of Commissioners Monday moved ahead with a new ordinance limiting certain plastic products' availability.

The second reading of ordinance No. P2-2022 passed with an 8-1 vote Monday.

Conor Quinn, 7th Ward Commissioner, voted no on the ordinance.

Items regulated under the ordinance include single-use plastic carry-out bags, single-use plastic straws and stirrers.

The ordinance will go into effect on Jan. 2, 2023.

Single-use plastic straws will only be available on request at no cost under the new ordinance.

As for straws and stirrers, only those made of biodegradable materials will be available upon request at no cost.

Businesses will only provide certain recyclable and compostable paper bags at $0.10 a piece and reusable bags.

Businesses with an undue hardship in compliance can get a one-year exemption to the ordinance, and restaurants can opt out of the bag fee for takeout and deliveries.

As for enforcement of the ordinance, first-time violators will be issued a written warning, then fines of up to $100, $200, and $500 can be applied.

Passing the ordinance makes Haverford the fifth municipality in Pennsylvania and the first in Delaware County to pass legislation in the growing effort to rein in single-use plastics, according to PennEnvironment.

PennEnvironment’s Zero Waste Advocate Faran Savitz said the ordinance is a major step in combatting plastic in the environment.

"We applaud the Township Commissioners for taking this crucial step to address pollution from single-use plastic bags in Haverford," Savitz said. "This is a major advancement in the fight to rein in the scourge of rampant plastic pollution that plagues our neighborhoods, our local parks and green spaces, and our rivers, streams, and oceans."

According to PennEnvironment, plastic bags in can choke animals, clog stormwater infrastructure exacerbating the effects of flooding or heavy rainfall, and break down into microplastics which accumulate toxic chemicals and have been found in waterways across the commonwealth.

PennEnvironment estimates that Haverford uses 17.9 million of plastic bags every year.

"Legislation to tackle plastic bag pollution is broadly supported by Pennsylvanians, and we’ve seen the wealth of support from Haverford residents who care deeply about this issue calling for action," Savitz said. "With this vote, Haverford joins hundreds of cities across the nation that have already implemented similar legislation. From those laws, we know that policies like Bill P2-2022 work. By dramatically reducing the distribution, we dramatically reduce the pollution."