Allegheny County Council proposes banning plastic bags
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Another group of community leaders is looking to implement a plastic bag ban for its stores. Right now, four Allegheny County council members are proposing the ban.
This proposed plastic bag ban in Allegheny is modeled after Pittsburgh's bag ban which went into effect 10 days ago. A vote could happen before the end of the year.
The ordinance will go into committee. The countywide plastic bag ban would go into effect one year after the legislation passes.
Shoppers would have to bring their own reusable bags or purchase paper bags for 10 cents a piece under the ordinance. Retailers could either keep the money from the paper bag sales or donate it to charity.
Businesses that don't comply are slapped with a $5 fine for every plastic bag passed out and up to a $50 fine a day.
Pittsburgh's plastic bag ban took effect this month.
The goal is to encourage shoppers to carry their own reusable bags to help the environment.
"A lot of my colleagues on county council have been following along with that work and it's almost exactly identical legislation to what the city's trying to do but to implement it countywide on a health premise that this is good for our environment, this is good for the health of the residents of Allegheny County," Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam said.
The countywide bag ban has exemptions. Plastic bags can be used to package bulk items like fruits and vegetables or to wrap meats or fish. Some people have expressed frustration, confusion and feel it's too burdensome.