USA – The city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has announced the implementation of a ban on single-use plastic bags to reduce local waste, plastic pollution, and litter.
Starting on Saturday, October 14th, the law bans retailers from distributing single-use plastic bags and mandates a minimum charge of US$0.10 for paper bags. This measure aims to promote the use of reusable bags instead of disposable alternatives.
“We must continuously examine our practices to ensure we’re pushing Pittsburgh toward the promise of a better tomorrow, and an important part of that is working to ensure that our city processes are environmentally conscious,” said Mayor Ed Gainey.
“By enacting this ban on single-use plastic bags, we can reduce the amount of microplastics in our soil and water, decrease our city’s reliance on fossil fuels, and improve our recycling processes.”
Certain types of plastic bags will still be available such as perishable items such as bulk fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, or candy; bags used to contain or wrap meat or fish; bags used for prepared foods such as baked goods, flowers, newspapers, dry cleaning, and similar items; and medications from pharmacies.
Businesses will be permitted to use the rest of their single-use plastic stock without any fine through January 1, 2024, when strict enforcement begins.
“We want to ensure that this ban does not impose a burden on our small businesses throughout the city, so it is important to us that they are given a grace period to achieve compliance,” stated Tobias Raether, Manager of Environmental Enforcement.
“Also, I want to make it clear that the city is here to be a partner in this transition. Our enforcement efforts will focus on issuing warnings and providing businesses with the necessary resources and support to achieve compliance.”
Pennsylvania currently boasts 24 municipal policies, one of which includes the Pittsburgh City Council’s unanimous approval of a single-use plastic bag ban on 12 April 2022.
Pittsburgh is claimed to be the first city outside of the Philadelphia area to implement such a law.
Single-use plastic bags decompose in the environment, but they never completely disappear. Instead, they transform into tiny fragments of plastic known as microplastics.
Environmental organization PennEnvironment conducted a study and discovered microplastics in all the samples collected from over 100 water bodies in Pennsylvania.
PennEnvironment’s deputy director, Ashleigh Deemer, stated, “We should not allow anything we use for a few minutes to litter our communities and pollute our environment for centuries. That’s why it has been so exciting to see Pittsburgh’s ban on single-use plastic bags take shape.”
“From assisting City Council in drafting the bill, to garnering public and business support for its passage, and now witnessing Mayor [Ed] Gainey’s administration taking charge and implementing it, PennEnvironment has been honored to collaborate with city officials in this endeavor.”
