Starting April 1st The City Will Start Enforcing $150 Plastic Bag Fines Per Violation

Those “will that be paper or plastic?,” days are long gone in Philly.  The plastic bag ban which was passed December of 2019 was put into effect last July. The city began its campaign to ban plastic bags and issued warnings to businesses that did not comply. Now it looks like those verbal warnings will soon become financial liabilities starting April 1st.

Businesses that are in violation will be fined a minimum of $150 per violation and subject to more fines.  If a business continues to violate the plastic bag ban the city could very well take them to court.

Aside from just single-use plastic bags, the ordinance includes bags made with polylactic acid and paper bags made with less than 40% recyclable material. As a solution, businesses are encouraged to promote the use of reusable bags made of materials such as cotton, polyester and nylon.

Mayor Kenney chimed in regarding the April 1st deadline stating, “As we approach the April 1 enforcement deadline, we urge businesses to make the necessary arrangements to avoid any financial penalties. We urge shoppers to bring reusable bags to do your shopping.”