Lancaster Township passes ban on single-use plastic bags

Ordinance is the first in Lancaster County and could reduce the 6.8 million plastic bags used annually

Monday, the Lancaster Township Board of Supervisors passed new legislation which will ban the distribution of single-use plastic bags in the townships. 

Through this action, Lancaster Township became the first municipality in Lancaster County and the 23rd in Pennsylvania to pass legislation in the growing effort to rein in single-use plastics. 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 

Plastic pollution is one of the most common forms of litter, and plastic bags in particular pose a great harm to the environment. PennEnvironment estimates that Township residents use 6.8 million single-use plastic bags annually. This ordinance is a strong first step on the path to curbing plastic waste in the township and in the County.

PennEnvironment’s Zero Waste Advocate Faran Savitz issued the following statement in response to the announcement:

“PennEnvironment applauds Lancaster Township for taking this crucial step to address pollution from single-use plastics. This is a major advancement in the fight to rein in the scourge of rampant plastic pollution that plagues our neighborhoods, our local parks and green spaces, and our rivers, streams, and oceans.

“Plastic bags are the poster child for the environmental harm caused by single-use plastics. Nothing we use for a few minutes, such as single-use plastic bags, should be allowed to litter our communities, pollute our environment, and fill our landfills and incinerators for hundreds of years to come. This sends a strong message that Lancaster is a leader in the effort to tackle litter and single-use plastic pollution.

“Legislation to tackle plastic bag pollution is broadly supported by Pennsylvanians, and we’ve seen the wealth of support from residents who care deeply about this issue calling for action.  With this vote, Lancaster Township joins hundreds of cities across the nation that have already implemented similar legislation. From those laws, we know these policies work. By dramatically reducing the distribution, we dramatically reduce the pollution.

“Every resident has had the experience of watching plastic bags blowing down our streets and through our neighborhoods, seeing plastic bags stuck in curbside trees and bushes, or in our parks and other outdoor places we love. It’s so exciting that these laws are spreading across Pennsylvania. With the passage of a bag ban in this township, it shows the incredible leadership coming from local officials in the fight against plastic waste and pollution.”

###

PennEnvironment is a statewide citizen-based non-profit environmental advocacy organization working to promote clean air, clean water, and protect our open spaces. To learn more about our work to tackle the threat of single-use plastics, visit https://environmentamerica.org/pennsylvania/resources/single-use-plastic-laws-in-pennsylvania, or to learn more about any of our issues visit www.PennEnvironment.org.