Philadelphia's bag ban goes into effect Friday with a six-month grace period.
Across the river, a ban on plastic straws starting next month is the first step toward an eventual ban on plastic bags in New Jersey.
In the City of Brotherly Love, supermarkets, convenience stores, restaurants service stations, department stores and retail clothing stores are among those that will no longer be able to provide single-use plastic bags or paper bags that do not contain at least 40% recycled content.
Enforcement of Philly's ban will begin on April 1 after the grace period. Violators will be fined a minimum penalty of $75. If businesses repeatedly or egregiously violate the ordinance, the city may take them to court and ask the judge to impose additional penalties.
New Jersey, meanwhile, has a single-use plastic bag ban coming in 2022 as a result of legislation signed by Gov. Phil Murphy on Nov. 4, 2020. It will ban single-use plastic and paper carryout bags, styrofoam containers, styrofoam cups of less than 2 ounces and styrofoam trays used with raw meat, fish and poultry.
All stores and food-service businesses will no longer be able to offer single-use plastic and paper carryout bags starting May 4, 2022.
Yes. It takes effect on Nov. 4.
The bags must be made of polypropylene fabric, PET non-woven fabric, nylon, cloth, hemp product, or other washable fabric. They have to have stitched handles and be designed and manufactured for multiple reuses.
Polystyrene foam food-service products and foods sold or provided in polystyrene foam foodservice products will also be banned on May 4, 2022 but will be exempt for another two years until May 4, 2024. Those items include:
A first offense gets a warning while a second offense by any person or entity could result in a fine of up to $1,000 per day. Fines are $5,000 for third and subsequent violations.
The Department of Health enforces the plastic straw provision of the law. The DEP, municipalities and any entity certified by the County Environmental Health Act have the authority to enforce the law.