About

Over the last 2+ years, Plymouth Township’s Environmental Advisory Board (EAB) has explored a reduction on some single-use plastic bags throughout the township. Numerous studies have documented the prevalence of single-use plastic bags littering the environment, blocking storm drains, entering local waterways, and becoming stuck in or upon natural resources and public property. The taxpayers of Plymouth Township pay the costs related to the cleanup of single-use plastic bags from the roadways, trees, sewers, waters, and parks within the Township.

The ordinance aims to reduce the use of single-use bags and limit automatic provision of single-use plastic utensils and straws throughout the township. Reducing plastic use in these ways will help:

• cut down on plastic litter in our environment, including in our streets, parks, trees, streams, rivers, and waterways.
• relieve pressure on recyclers, who cite single-use plastic bags as a major source of contamination and inefficiency within the recycling stream.
• promote the use of reusable, compostable, and recyclable materials within Plymouth Township, and to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of Plymouth Township.
• relieve the pressure for landfills to manage the disposition of single-use products.
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and solid waste generation.

 

Similar ordinances have been implemented in many neighboring municipalities including Whitemarsh, Upper Merion, and Upper Moreland townships. In our outreach efforts to residents and businesses (detailed below), we received a total of 131 completed feedback forms. Here is a graphic summary of our survey’s results, including the common points against the ordinance.

Single-use plastic bags often end up in our waterways, like in this photo at Bicentennial Park.

 

Outreach Timeline

Full timeline of events leading to ordinance implementation:

Spring of 2022 – Plymouth EAB sent out survey and feedback form to residents.

January 2023 – Plymouth EAB sent out survey and feedback form to businesses in Plymouth.

Fall 2022 – Plymouth EAB included an article in the fall 2022 newsletter (page 5) to township residents.

April 2023 – Survey and feedback form sent to apartment complex managers for dispersal to residents.

Spring 2023 – Plymouth EAB included an update in the spring 2023 newsletter (page 8).

July 2023 – An update communication was mailed as an insert in the sewer bills to residents.

Fall 2023 – An update was included in the fall 2023 newsletter (page 6).

May 29th, 2024 – A town hall was held on May 29th to get more feedback from the public.

June 10th, 2024 – Council makes first consideration of ordinance at their June meeting.

Mid-June, 2024 – Feedback provided to Council from residents via calls, letters, and other communications helped to fine-tune the ordinance and change various details.

August 12th, 2024 – Council makes first consideration of the new, improved ordinance at their regular August meeting.

September 9th, 2024 – Council makes final consideration of the ordinance. Ordinance 1703 is ordained and enacted.

 

Dates to Know / Implementation Dates:

Thursday October 10, 2024 – Effective date

Wednesday April 9, 2025 – Implementation date

Wednesday April 9, 2025 – Per ordinance Sec 17-3: commercial establishments shall not distribute single-use plastic carry-out bags to any customer either at the commercial establishment, off site, or in conjunction with a delivery.

Wednesday April 9, 2025 – Per ordinance Sec 17-4 (a): retail establishments shall not distribute a non-recyclable paper bag to any customer either at the commercial establishment, off site, or in conjunction with a delivery.

Wednesday April 9, 2025 – Per ordinance Sec 17-7 (a): …and for six months thereafter, retail establishments that possess an egress towards the retail establishments parking lot, are required to post at all points of entry conspicuous signage informing customers that single-use plastic bags and non-recyclable paper bags will no longer be distributed by the establishment as of the date the prohibition begins; explain what types of bags and purchases are impacted; and providing any other information the Township may require by regulation. See below section for signage resources.

Wednesday April 9, 2025 – Per ordinance Sec 17-7 (b): …and for six months thereafter, retail establishments are required to post at all points of sale conspicuous signage informing customers that single-use plastic bags and non-recyclable paper bags will no longer be distributed by the establishment as of the date the prohibition begins; explain what types of bags and purchases are impacted; and providing any other information the Township may require by regulation. See below section for signage resources.

Wednesday April 9, 2025 – Per ordinance Sec 17-8 and 17-9: retail establishments shall not distribute single-use plastic straws or utensils, except upon request of the customer.

 

Resources for Businesses:

• Sample sign to inform customers
• Parking lot and Point-of-sale sign example

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I read the proposed ordinance?

The ordinance can be found by clicking here.

 

When does the ordinance go into effect?

• The ordinance was enacted on September 9th, 2024
• The effective date is Thursday October 10, 2024
• The implementation date is Wednesday April 9, 2025

 

What is actually being reduced?

Beginning six months after the Effective Date, commercial establishments shall not distribute:

• Single-use Plastic bags, defined as a bag made through a blown-film extrusion process, but not including an Exempted Bag (see next FAQ).
• Single-Use Plastic Utensils and Straws, except upon request of the Customer.

 

Are there any exemptions?

Yes. The ordinance exempts the following plastic bags from the reduction:

• A bag used to package bulk items such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, or candy;
• A bag used to contain or wrap meats or fish; to contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods;
• A bag used solely to contain live animals, such as fish or insects, sold in a pet store;
• A bag sold in packaging containing multiple bags and packaged at the time of manufacture of the bag;
• Laundry or dry-cleaning bags;
• Newspaper bags; and
• Non-handled bags used to protect a purchased item from damaging or contaminating other purchased items when placed in a reusable bag or recycled paper bag.

 

Which businesses does this affect?

Any person, corporation, partnership, business venture, or vendor that sells or distributes merchandise, goods, or materials directly to a customer, whether or not for profit, including, but not limited to, restaurants ( eat -in and/or take-out food), bars, pharmacies, convenience and grocery stores, seasonal and temporary businesses or markets, retail stores, or other similar nonresidential uses. For purposes of this chapter, commercial establishments shall not include bazaars, festivals, food banks, food pantries, senior citizen centers or similar meal centers operated by nonprofit or governmental organizations or religious institutions.

 

Why reduce plastic bags?

The ordinance aims to reduce the use of single-use bags and limit automatic provision of single-use plastic utensils and straws throughout the township. Reducing plastic use in these ways will help:

• cut down on plastic litter in our environment, including in our streets, parks, trees, streams, rivers, and waterways.
• relieve pressure on recyclers, who cite single-use plastic bags as a major source of contamination and inefficiency within the recycling stream.
• promote the use of reusable, compostable, and recyclable materials within Plymouth Township, and to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of Plymouth Township.
• relieve the pressure for landfills to manage the disposition of single-use products.
• reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and solid waste generation.

 

What alternative bags can businesses provide to consumers?

We encourage businesses to promote consumer use of reusable cloth or reusable plastic bags. Some businesses have had success with placing signage near the entrance of the store reminding consumers to bring their reusable bags into the business with them.

Businesses may also provide Recycled Paper Bags at the point of sale for no less than $0.10 per bag, so long as it meets the following requirements (not including an Exempted bag):

• Is 100% recyclable;
• Contains no old growth fiber;
• Contains a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content; and
• Displays the word “Recyclable” in a highly-visible area on the outside of the bag, and is labeled in a highly-visible manner with the name of the manufacturer and the percentage of post-consumer recycled content of the bag in an easy-to-read font size.

 

Businesses may also provide Reusable Carryout Bags at the point of sale if the bag is provided to the consumer for a charge of not less than $0.10 per bag. “Reusable carryout bag” means a carryout bag that is designed and manufactured for multiple uses and is:

• Made of cloth or other machine-washable fabric that as stitched handles; or
• A polypropylene bag that has stitched handles.

 

Businesses: Please note that any charge for Recycled Paper Bags and Reusable Carryout Bags shall be separately stated on a receipt provided to the customer at the time of sale and shall be identified as the “Carry-Out Bag Charge” thereon.

 

Are there fines for non-compliance?

Yes. A person or commercial establishment that violates the requirements shall be guilty of a summary offense and, upon conviction thereof in any District Justice Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, shall:

• Be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $50 for a first offense;
• Be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $100 for a second offense; and
• Be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $200 for a third or any subsequent offense.

 

Each day of non-compliance is considered a unique offense.