Many neighboring municipalities have adopted plastic bag ordinances, including: New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, West Chester, Haverford, Narberth, Eastown, Tredyffrin, Radnor, and others. Lower Merion Township is joining our neighbors in this effort to keep our environment safe and clean.

The Negative Impacts of Plastic Bags

Americans use billions of plastic bags each year. Plastic bags require fossil fuels to produce and are not degradable. They pollute our land, air, and water, and when they do break down into small particles, they are ultimately consumed by animals, including humans. Single use plastic bags provide convenience. But when this convenience is weighed against their negative implications, it’s easy to see why plastic is a detriment and just not the best solution.

Single use plastic bags are recyclable, but recycling rates of these bags are very low. Disposable plastic bags are likely to become stuck in recycling processing equipment which is a hassle and slows down the entire operation. Most recycling facilities refuse to accept them due to the added complication. It seems many people find it difficult to recycle single-use plastic bags, so they end up in landfills or as litter.

Discarded plastic bags pose a risk to animals and their habitats. Animals may eat the plastic bags mistaking them for food which can lead to serious health problems and even death. When animals become tangled in bags, they may be unable to protect and fend for themselves. These plastic litter complications can have larger impacts beyond wildlife. Studies have shown that plastic litter has an impact on the food chain, so you and your family may end up facing consequences as a result of plastic litter.

The Reality of Plastic Bags:

• Made from nonrenewable resources
• Not biodegradable
• Likely to end up as litter
• Can kill animals, particularly marine animals that mistake plastic bags as food

Reusable Bags & Your Impact

You can have a big impact by switching to reusable bags. There are many estimates as to just how many single-use plastic bags are replaced by using one reusable grocery bag for one year or a lifetime. The estimates range from a savings of 100 bags a year to 700 bags per year.

The main advantage of reusable bags is that they can do everything plastic bags can do, without the negative environmental impact. Reusable bags are constructed from recycled or sustainable materials and are designed to be used multiple times.

The Reality of Reusable Bags:

• Made from recycled or sustainable materials
• Constructed to be used multiple times
• Do not significantly contribute to litter
• Likely to be disposed of in a responsible manner

By bringing a reusable bag to the store, citizens can do their part to make meaningful change for Lower Merion Township by supporting a green, clean environment. BYOB, Lower Merion!

Any store or commercial establishment, whether for profit or not for profit, that sells perishable or nonperishable goods, including, but not limited to, clothing, food, and personal items, directly to the customer and is located within or doing business within the geographical limits of the Township. These include but are not limited to: a commercial establishment that generates a sales or use tax; a drugstore, pharmacy, supermarket, grocery store, farmers market, convenience food store, food mart, delivery service or other business entity engaged in the retail sale of a limited line of goods that include milk, bread, soda and snack foods; a public eating establishment (i.e. a restaurant, take-out food establishment, or any other business that prepares and sells prepared food to be eaten on or off its premises); and a business establishment that sells clothing, hardware, or any other nonperishable goods.

Dry cleaners, food banks, food pantries, senior citizen centers or similar meal centers operated by nonprofit or governmental organizations or religious institutions are exempt from the ordinance.

A retail establishment that violates the requirements of this chapter will be subject to:

• A letter of warning for a first offense;
• A civil penalty not exceeding $100 for a second offense; and
• A civil penalty not exceeding $200 for a third; and
• A civil penalty not exceeding $500 for a fourth or any subsequent offense.
• The failure of the Township to enforce any provision of this chapter shall not constitute a waiver of its rights to future enforcement of such provision hereunder.
• To report non-compliance, please use LM Report-It. 

To report non-compliance, please use LM Report-It. 

Any bag made predominantly of plastic derived from either petroleum or a biologically based source, such as corn or other plant sources, which is made through a blown film extrusion process and that is provided by a Retail Establishment to a Customer at the point-of-sale. The term does not include bags intentionally designed for reuse or product packaging. 

The following types of bags are exempt:

1. A bag without handles that is used to deliver perishable items to the point of sale at a commercial establishment, including bags used to package bulk items, contain frozen foods, unwrapped prepared foods & bakery goods, produce, meat, and live animals;
2. Bags used for laundry, dry cleaner, newspaper, or to protect a purchased item from damaging or contaminating other purchased items; and
3. Bags sold in packages containing multiple bags, packaged at time of manufacture, and intended for use as food storage bags, lawn bags, trash or garbage bags, or pet waste bags.

Bags made from these types of plastic may do more harm than good. Rather than substituting the type of plastic used, it's better to BYOB, Lower Merion!

• Many compostable plastics will not break down in a backyard bin - they can only be composted by a high-heat industrial composting facility. Yet many composting facilities don’t accept bioplastics or compostable plastics because of the contamination they cause, and very few Lower Merion residents divert their waste to commercial composting facilities, resulting in these plastics ultimately ending up in landfills, incinerators, as litter in the natural environment or as contamination in a compost or recycling facility.
• Many biodegradable plastics are made with fossil fuels plus an additive which allegedly allows the rapid biodegradation of the product. There is no independently verified conclusive proof that the plastic will completely biodegrade. In fact, they are actually known to create small fragments called microplastics, which, when ingested by animals, can eventually make their way up the food chain.
• Compostable and biodegradable plastics are often mistaken by consumers to be recyclable, when in fact they contaminate the recycling stream due to their chemical composition. Similarly, biodegradable plastics are often mistaken to be compostable, when they actually contaminate compost streams.
• Growing crops to make bio-based plastics requires significant amounts of fossil fuels, farmland, and water – all precious resources that can be used to grow actual food.
• Post-consumer recycled plastic bags use fewer raw materials than virgin plastics, however they degrade the recycling stream and cause the same detrimental effects when they end up in landfills, incinerators, or the natural environment.
• Most products that claim to be recyclable or compostable aren’t collected for recycling or compost. If they do get collected, they may still get diverted to landfill or incinerator.

See Ethical and Sustainable Good. for more information.

Compliant bags include:

1. A paper bag that meets the following minimum requirements:

• It is considered a recyclable paper material in Chapter 82 of the Township Code, as the same may be amended from time to time, contains a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled material and displays the words “recyclable” and/or “reusable” in a highly visible manner on the outside of the bag; or
• It can be composted

2. A reusable bag with stitched handles that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse. Reusable bags shall be made of either cotton, polyester, polypropylene, or other durable material. 

Retail establishments must charge the Customer a fee of at least $0.10 per Compliant Bag. This charge must be reflected in the sales receipt.  

Customers may use bags of any type that they bring to the Retail Establishment themselves without incurring a fee for a Compliant Bag or other charge

Retail establishments must charge the Customer a fee of at least $0.10 per Compliant Bag. This charge must be reflected in the sales receipt.  Retail establishments keep the collected fee. 

Reusable grocery bags are a smart choice but there could be some risk. When you carry food or other items in these bags, they may leave behind germs like E. coli or Salmonella. If the bags are not properly washed and dried before they are used again, these germs remain and can make you sick.

Keep yourself and your family safe. Follow these easy steps to reduce the spread of germs:

Separate meat, fish or poultry; fresh produce, and ready-to-eat foods.

• Use separate bags. Dedicate one bag for meat, fish or poultry; another for fresh fruits and vegetables, and another for ready-to-eat foods. It's also a good idea to keep these foods separated in your shopping cart, on the checkout lane's conveyor belt, and at home. This will help prevent germs from spreading.
• Remember: cold food needs to be refrigerated within two hours of leaving the store or market. When temperatures outside are above 90 degrees, cold food should be refrigerated within one hour.

Always put raw meats into a disposable plastic bag before putting them in a reusable bag.

• A disposable plastic bag will help contain any juices that drip off raw meat, fish and poultry packages. These juices will then be unable to touch other foods and contaminate them. Disposable plastic bags are usually available in your store's raw meat, fish, poultry or produce areas.
• Immediately after use, throw away disposable plastic bags used for raw meat, fish or poultry. Never reuse bags that contained raw meat, fish or poultry.

Wash reusable grocery bags often.

• Cloth reusable bags should be washed in a washing machine using laundry detergent. They should also be dried in the dryer or air-dried.
• Plastic-lined reusable bags should be scrubbed using hot water and soap, then air-dried.
• Before storing, be sure both cloth and plastic-lined reusable bags are completely dry.

Reusable Bags are best stored in a cool, dry place when possible.

• Reusable bags are best stored in a cool, dry place when possible. Make sure your bags are clean to inhibit bacteria growth.

Do not use reusable grocery bags for other purposes.

• Bags used for groceries should be used only for food. Don't carry items such as baby bottles, toys, gym clothes, and other items in the same reusable bags that you take to the grocery store. These simple steps will help reduce the spread of germs to keep you and your family safe.

From July 21, 2023 through January 21, 2024, retail establishments were required to post signs informing customers about the change.

Download and print sample signs below

Double-sided sign for window placement: Plastic Bag Ordinance Sample Signage - Full Page Front & Back

Tri-fold tent card for register placement: Plastic Bag Ban - Tri-fold Register Tent with instructions

Single-fold tent card for register placement : Plastic Bag Ban - Foldable Register Tent (best for use on sturdy card stock)

Copies of the sample signs were also available at the Township Administration Building and Township libraries.