Allegheny County Mulling Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PA — Less than two week after a prohibition on single-use plastic bags went into effect in Pittsburgh, county officials are considering a full countywide ban on them. An ordinance is being introduced at Tuesday's county council meeting that virtually mimics the Pittsburgh law that went into effect Oct. 14.

Single-use plastic bags would be prohibited but include exemptions for plastic bags used to pack bulk items such as fruits and vegetable, to hold unwrapped prepared foods, to hold flowers or plants or to package pharmacy medications. Garbage bags and bags for food storage or pet waste collection also would be exempt.

Just like in Pittsburgh, when the ban goes into effect one year after the legislation goes into effect, consumers would have to bring their own reusable bags or purchase paper bags for ten cents apiece. Participants in the Women, Infants and Children Program would get recycled paper bags for free.

Under the ordinance, retailers could either keep the money from paper bag sales or donate the sale proceeds to charity.