Wildlife Over Waste

PennEnvironment campaign to ban plastic bags in Pittsburgh gains support

PennEnvironment has a plan to help Pittsburgh eliminate 108 million plastic bags a year.

PennEnvironment has a plan to help Pittsburgh eliminate 108 million plastic bags a year — many of which would end up in rivers and streams, harming and even killing wildlife.

After our successful effort to end a statewide “preemption” law that blocked Pennsylvania communities from regulating plastics, in early September, PennEnvironment launched a campaign to ban single-use plastic bags in Pittsburgh. By Sept. 29, more than 100 businesses and organizations signed on to our campaign. Building on the strategy we used to win Pennsylvania’s first citywide bag ban in Philadelphia, PennEnvironment will continue enlisting more supporters who want to put wildlife over waste.

“We shouldn’t allow plastic bags that we use for a few minutes endanger wildlife and pollute our rivers, parks and neighborhoods for hundreds of years,” said PennEnvironment Deputy Director Ashleigh Deemer. “The support reflected in this letter shows that Pittsburgh is ready for change and wants to ban single-use plastic bags.”

PennEnvironment is working to pass the ban by the end of 2021.

Photo: For years, PennEnvironment advocates and supporters have called on lawmakers to put wildlife over waste. Credit: Staff

Mary Katherine Moore
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