Joining the Borough of West Chester and West Goshen Township, Easttown Township is now the third municipality in Chester County to have placed a ban on single-use plastic bags, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

Easttown’s ban will go into effect in January 2023.

Ordinance 450-2022 halts the sale and distribution of plastic bags at local businesses. Furthermore, plastic bag alternatives must be made of at least 40 percent recycled materials. The township’s Environmental Advisory Council (EAC) supported this ban and had been working closely with PennEnvironment, a nonprofit advocacy.

“I think what comes next is we want to see a successful rollout of this ordinance and adoption in the business community and residential communities,” said Cara Rash, chair of the township’s EAC. 

PennEnvironment calculated that Easttown residents use around four million plastic bags per year. Plastic is not biodegradable; therefore, the waste buildup continues to destroy the environment. 

The ordinance will impose a fee of $0.15 on alternative bags and charge a fine for violations.  

“Where there’s litter, where there isn’t litter, we find microplastics. So, the best thing we can do is cut the plastic off at its source. Because if there’s no real sustainable way to deal with it right now, well, let’s turn off the tap,” said Faran Savitz, a zero-waste advocate with PennEnvironment.

Read more about the plastic bag ban at WHYY.