A member of Philadelphia City Council reintroduced plastic bag legislation this week – a development that could bode well for promotional products distributors that sell in the City of Brotherly Love.

Councilman Mark Squilla pushed for a bill that would ban single-use plastic bags and put a 15-cent fee on any recyclable paper bag or other reusable bags a merchant might provide to a customer. If adopted, the ban would apply to supermarkets, convenience stores, service stations, department stores, dollar stores, clothing stores, restaurants, food trucks, farmers’ markets, dry cleaners and delivery services, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Some bags would be exempt, such as those used to package fruits and vegetables or those used to contain wrapped meats or fish.

This is the fourth time in 12 years that a plastic bag ban has been suggested by Philadelphia City Council. In 2015, Squilla tried to propose a 5-cent fee for single-use bags, but the bill died. Earlier attempts by other city lawmakers to ban plastic bags – in 2007 and in 2009 – also died, according to WITF.

“We worked with a broad coalition of folks..." Fourth time’s a charm? Plastic bag ban introduced in City Council, and this time it might actually pass https://t.co/tgY4OGLX3O @WHYYNews @danabate

— Joanne McLaughlin (@joannemclaugh) June 20, 2019

In the past, the grocery and plastic industries have lobbied against such bans, arguing the legislation would place the burden on businesses and taxpayers. However, this new legislation would allow businesses to keep the fees they collect from distributing paper or thicker plastic bags rather than the city collecting such money – a major gripe with the city’s soda tax.

Squilla is hoping for an 80% reduction in single-use plastic bags within the first year. The bill has four cosponsors and support from Mayor Jim Kenney, he said. It will go before the full Council in the fall.

Plastic bag ban introduced in Philly council so you won’t be able to get a plastic bag to hold your goods at ShopRite, Wawa or Macy’s 🌲🌲👝without paying extra for it, if ban is adopted. #plasticpollution #plastics #plasticfree https://t.co/Si0Lux6MfT

— Frank Kummer (@frankkummer) June 20, 2019

Legislators and proponents of single-use plastic bag restrictions hope the regulations will encourage consumers to change their behavior and switch to reusable bags for their shopping. That presents potential opportunity for promotional products distributors, who can encourage businesses, nonprofits and other organizations to tap into the momentum of the “green wave” by giving out or selling branded reusable bags like totes.

About 40% of plastic is used just once before being thrown away, and it’s choking our waterways and harming wildlife. Good thing Philadelphia City Council just introduced a single-use plastic bag ban! Making progress. #PlasticFreeWatershed #bagban pic.twitter.com/D7r1IEqKLj

— Rupika Ketu (@RupikaK2) June 20, 2019

A growing number of municipalities, cities and states, as well as countries, are considering or actively trying to ban single-use plastic bags. Earlier this week, Maine and Vermont adopted laws that place prohibitions on single-use plastic bags. Ban proponents say the bags present a threat to wildlife and cause pollution. The world produces more than 300 million tons of plastic each year, according to Statista, and scientists estimate that up to 91% of plastic is never recycled, polluting the environment and threatening wildlife.

More than 90 bills have been introduced in the U.S. this year regarding plastic bags, mostly to ban or place a fee on them, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

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