Plastic Bag Ban Could Come To Radnor Township

RADNOR TOWNSHIP, PA — Single-use plastic bags could go the way of the dodo in Radnor Township.

A new ordinance proposed by the Radnor Township Environmental Advisory Council would eliminate single use plastic shopping bags in the township.

"Every year, Americans throw away about 100 billion plastic bags a year. These bags require fossil fuels for production. Plastic bags take hundreds of years to degrade, and when they do, they become small toxic microparticles, many of which are consumed by humans and other animals," said Margaret Reinhart, Chair of the Radnor Township Environmental Advisory Council. "Radnor Township, along with other area townships, would like to do their part in improving this situation."

The proposed ordinance will be presented during the Environmental Advisory Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Community members and local businesses are invited to provide input on the ordinance.

Should the ordinance pass in its current form, businesses would be banned from providing single-use plastic bags six months from its passing.

Additionally, six months after its passing, businesses would not be permitted to provide non-recyclable paper bags but can provide recyclable paper bags for no less than 10 cents per bag. Reusable bags can also be sold by businesses for no less than 10 cents per bag.

First-time violations result in $50 fines. Fines increase to $100 for the second violation and $200 for the third violation. Penalties would not be permitted to exceed $600 for each offense, the ordinance reads.

The ordinance as it stands does include exemptions, such as laundry and dry cleaner bags, newspaper bags, and bags provided by commercial establishments operated on the federal, state, and local levels.

Other exemptions exist for businesses that would face "undue hardship" in making the change from plastic bags, but those exemptions last only a year after the ordinance passes.

Read the full ordinance here.