The bill to eliminate the use of single-use plastic bags in stores, restaurants, and delivery services passed last year in December after major adjustments. The bill was introduced by City Councilmember Mark Squilla in June as the fourth attempt in 12 years to ban plastic bags.
Plastics industry links reusable bags to COVID-19
The plastics industry has been pushing the delay of single-use plastic bags all across the country arguing they’re safer than reusable bags during the coronavirus pandemic.
In March, Politico obtained a letter from the Plastics Industry Association requesting the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to speak out against bans “and help stop the rush to ban these products by environmentalists and elected officials that puts consumers and workers at risk.”
There is no link between reusable bags and COVID-19.
Still, cities and states across the country have been delaying plastic bag bans over the last few months. New York State postponed enforcement from March to June, last week.
Environmentalists say the city’s decision is unfortunate, especially on Earth Day.
“It is so disappointing that of all possible days, city officials chose the 50th anniversary of Earth Day to announce a significant delay of the most important environmental law passed in Philadelphia in a long time. This is ill-timed and tone-deaf on this special day,” said PennEnvironment’s executive director David Masur.
Plastic bags are one of the most littered items on the streets of Philadelphia, according to the city’s Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet. They’re not recyclable curbside and take about 500 years to break into smaller pieces. Businesses give away about one billion plastic bags in Philadelphia per year, according to estimates by the Clean Air Council.
Mayor Kenney marked Earth Day with several other announcements with more positive messages to the environmental movement — the release of the city’s Office of Sustainability Greenworks Review and the reopening of Solarize Philly.
That program incentivizes solar energy use with grants that include financing to low and moderate-income households with no upfront cost and utility bill savings from year one.