Pittsburgh Delaying Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban

PITTSBURGH, PA — Pittsburgh is delaying the banning of single-use plastic bags by six months. The ban was to go into effect on April 14; the city now will begin enforcing the prohibition on Oct. 14.

The delay is occurring to help ensure a successful rollout of the initiative, city officials said.

“It is critical for this success of this major initiative that the city is prepared to best help businesses and consumers make the transition,” Mayor Ed Gainey said in a statement. “This extra time will allow us to do the work to be able to enact this policy with proper guidance for everyone in order to make this as smooth as possible for all of us."

The delay enables the city to shift the date when businesses would be required to post visible notices of the upcoming single-use plastic bag ban to July 14. The city also will launch and maintain a website dedicated to providing public information on the policy.

The city Department of Public Works will compile and share lists of distributors for compliant paper bags and reusable bags. A three-step sanctions framework will be created in which inspectors can issue written warnings for initial violations that then would be followed by escalating fines.