Montgomery Township Weighing Single Use Plastics Ban

MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP, PA — As more and more businesses and citizens become aware of the global crisis of plastic waste and pollution, action is being taken at the local level.

Montgomery Township is considering joining the growing number of Pennsylvania communities to ban single-use plastics.

The township said they are working to "create a more sustainable and environmentally friendly community" and that they're looking for public feedback.

Officials have put out both a residential survey and a business survey to gauge community feeling.

Both surveys will close on March 31.

Narberth became the first municipality in all of Pennsylvania to ban single use plastics in Oct. 2018. They were followed shortly thereafter by West Chester and others around southeastern Pennsylvania.

Supporters cite the severe environmental impacts of single-use plastics, ranging from greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, to litter, damage to wildlife, and excess waste generation.

California became the first state to pass a ban on plastic bags in 2014, the National Conference of State Legislatures said. It's joined by seven others, including Hawaii, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont.

Similar legislation is pending in several other states, though that does not include Pennsylvania. The state does have a bill that would "limit" unsustainable food containers, though it has not progressed in the general assembly.

Philadelphia joined major cities in an outright ban in 2021. New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, and others have also instituted some form of a ban or severe limitation.