West Chester’s success in implementing a single-use plastic ban that went into effect on Jan. 1 is prompting other Philadelphia suburbs to follow suit, including most recently Media in neighboring Delaware County, writes Maggie Mancini for the Philly Voice. 

The ban was originally stalled when the Republican-led state legislature introduced a bill last year that would have extended a moratorium placed on plastic bans throughout the state. 

West Chester along with Philadelphia, Narberth, and Lower Merion Township responded to the bill by filing a suit against the Pennsylvania legislature. They are alleging that state lawmakers acted in an “undemocratic” manner by imposing a moratorium on bans that each municipality had already approved. 

At the start of the year, West Chester and Philadelphia started implementing their bans and soon other towns followed. 

Easttown Township implemented a ban in June. Township officials are now hoping to see communities throughout the state expand their focus to also include Styrofoam in their proposed bans. 

Meanwhile, Tredyffrin Township is among those currently working to pass similar single-use plastic bans. 

Read more about the single-use plastic ban in the Philly Voice.