Banning plastic bags is an effective way to increase the usage of reusable options – reducing the need for single use plastics that can take decades, if not hundreds of years, to decompose,” said State Senator Amanda Cappelletti, whose district includes Upper and Lower Merion, “Upper Merion is taking a critical step to create a more sustainable future for all of us by joining the other municipalities across our region that have banned the usage of plastic bags and polystyrene foam containers.” “Mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming will take societal change. Upper Merion’s ordinance covers the King of Prussia Mall, the largest mall in Pennsylvania and the fifth largest in the United States. “After four years of working on an ordinance to reduce plastic pollution and consumption in Upper Merion, the Board of Supervisors unanimously supported the EAC’s proposed ordinance to adopt new single-use product regulations in the community,” said Zachary Davis, chair of the Upper Merion Environmental Advisory Council: “This will lead to a cleaner, safer community for all residents and visitors, while showing that Upper Merion is committed to leading in environmental excellence.” Upper Merion also included a ban on the distribution of plastic utensils. They are the sixth and seventh municipalities in Pennsylvania to tackle this important and damaging form of waste. The ordinances also put fees on the distribution of paper bags and set recycled content requirements.īoth ordinances also include bans on expanded foam polystyrene containers. These measures set strong standards for halting the sale or distribution of single-use plastic bags at grocery stores, pharmacies, corner stores, and other retailers. Through this action, Upper Moreland and Upper Merion become the 19th and 20th municipalities respectively in Pennsylvania to pass legislation in the growing effort to rein in single-use plastics. This comes on the heels of Lower Merion Township which passed similar important legislation on June 21, and West Norriton Township passed a similar ban in November 2022. Last week, the Upper Merion Board of Supervisors and the Upper Moreland Board of Commissioners each passed new legislation which will ban the distribution of single-use plastic bags in their townships.
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