Despite directly defying state law, there is little momentum in Harrisburg to challenge West Chester’s recent ban on single-use plastics, writes Vinny Vella for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The West Chester Borough voted to ban single-use plastics two weeks after Gov. Tom Wolf signed the state budget. Within the budget was an 11th-hour amendment that prohibits municipalities from enacting such bans for a year, while potential economic impact is studied.

According to local officials, the decision to go forward with the vote was not made out of spite.

“There was a tremendous outpouring from our community and beyond who wanted the borough to go ahead anyway and pass it,” said Mayor Dianne Herrin.

There have been some changes made to the ban to make it a not-so-blatant challenge to the state law. The ordinance was amended to officially take effect on July 1, 2020, the day the state’s moratorium is lifted.

Despite fear from some council members that the ban could invite litigation from the state, Wolf’s office said last week it has no jurisdiction to challenge the ban, while the attorney general’s office said it would only act if directed to by the governor.

Read more about the issue in The Philadelphia Inquirer here.

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