The Whitemarsh Township’s Board of Supervisors has announced it will consider adopting an ordinance in the spring of 2023 that would ban the use of single-use plastic bags at retail establishments within the township. Retail establishments are defined in the proposed ordinance as “supermarket, convenience store, service station, delicatessen, department store, dollar store, clothing store, restaurant, pharmacy, food truck, farmers’ market or delivery service, but not including drycleaners.”

As currently written, the proposed ordinance would not ban all plastic bags. For example, if you are at a supermarket it is permissible to put vegetables in the plastic bags available in the produce section. However, the store wouldn’t be able to provide the plastic bags used to package groceries together when checking out.

The ordinance, if adopted, would also ban the use of non-recycled paper bags.

Plymouth Township has studied a similar ordinance but has not moved to consider adopting it as of yet.

Whitemarsh Township’s Environmental Advisory Board studied the issue and made a presentation and drafted the proposed ordinance. You can view the presentation and draft ordinance here.