LOWER MERION – Lower Merion could be the next community to ban some businesses from giving out plastic bags to customers.
This week, the Lower Merion Sustainability Committee approved a motion recommending the board of commissioners advertises the new ordinance to outlaw retail establishments from providing plastic carry-out bags at the point of sale.
Plastic bag bans have become more popular in recent years. Narberth, Radnor, Haverford, and other nearby municipalities have banned stores from giving out plastic bags over the past few years.
Under the planned ordinance, businesses would have six months to comply. Residents can report any business that violates the new regulation.
The Lower Merion Building and Planning Department would mail a form letter to the business after the first violation report. After a second report, someone from the township would inspect the business and then issue a citation if they were found to be in violation of the ordinance.
Stores can sell paper bags to customers for 10 cents. Customers can bring any kind of bag into the business without being charged.
Businesses violating the new ordinance will receive a warning for the first offense. Fines of $100, $200 and $300 will be assessed for each additional offense when they occur within a year of the first.
One change made to the ordinance since it was reviewed by the committee in February was to remove the exemption for “government-run agencies.”
Ernie McNeely, township manager, said the commissioners discussed the draft ordinance on Feb. 1, and since then, they’ve circulated it and posted information online.
If and when the commissioners approve the ordinance, businesses will be required to post information about the new ordinance within 30 days.
“Six months later, it would go into effect for actual enforcement with potential fines and citations,” McNeely said.
The Lower Merion Conservancy contacted 135 businesses about a bag ban, with 29 participating in the survey. According to the survey, 74 percent of respondents said they would support a ban on the distribution of plastic bags and a fee on paper bags.
Maurine McGeehan, executive director of the Lower Merion Conservancy, expressed support for the new ordinance.
“We want the board to know that the conservancy is excited to help with public outreach and education once the ordinance is in place, and we appreciate your listening to our comments and all that you do and especially your for advertising this ordinance tonight,” McGeehan said.
A former commissioner, Mark Taylor of Penn Valley, also expressed support for the new ordinance.
“We urge you to advertise this ordinance. We encourage you to pass it,” Taylor said. “It’s a long time coming. All of our neighbors have enacted something along these lines. It doesn’t break down as well as it should. It gets into our water, and it breaks down enough to get into our bodies. It’s time we get rid of plastic bags in Lower Meiron.”
Once passed, the new ordinance will go into effect six months later.
