Ban on plastic bags goes into effect March 15
RADNOR » Radnor officials are reminding residents and businesses it’s just about time to BYOB: bring your own bag.
The “bags” in the BYOB are in connection with the new plastic bag ban that goes into effect on March 15.
In September, the commissioners approved a ban on the single-use plastic bags typically given out at grocery and other retail stores.
Under the ordinance, retailers had six months to comply with the new regulation to use existing inventory and help people prepare for the change.
During this week’s meeting of the board of commissioners, Moira Mulroney, board president, announced that the ordinance goes into effect on March 15.
“Bring your bags, be patient with shop owners as they’re figuring out how to do this,” Mulroney said.
Under the ordinance, retailers can provide recyclable paper bags for 10 cents or sell reusable bags, but customers were encouraged to bring their own.
Exemptions to the ordinance include those used for produce, wrapping meats, frozen foods, pastries and dry cleaning bags.
Bill White, township manager, said the Radnor Community Development Department would oversee the enforcement
of the ordinance.
For the time being, the parttime property maintenance inspector has been asked to go into shops and look for the signs that retailers are required to post about the new regulation.
According to White, the enforcement would primarily be based on complaints received by the township.
“As we receive complaints, we will respond, and then periodically our maintenance enforcement inspector … will also be spot-checking stores,”
White said.
Businesses that violate the ban would be subject to a $50 fine for the first offense, $100 for the second, and $200 for subsequent violations.
When Radnor passed the ordinance, the municipality joined Philadelphia, West Chester, Haverford, Narberth, several other communities and New Jersey and Delaware states to adopt bag-banning regulations.
Lower Merion is currently discussing a bag ban ordinance.