[Adopted 7-13-2023 by Ord. No. 1029]
As used in this Article, the following terms have the following
definitions:
CUSTOMER
Any person purchasing goods or services from a retail establishment.
EFFECTIVE DATE
The effective date of the ordinance that added this article
to the Code of Ordinances of Whitemarsh Township.
EXEMPTED BAG
A.
A bag used inside a retail establishment by a customer to deliver
perishable items to the point of-sale at that establishment;
B.
Shall include:
(1)
A bag used to package bulk items such as fruit, vegetables,
nuts, grains, or candy;
(2)
A bag used to contain or wrap meats or fish; to contain unwrapped
prepared foods or bakery goods;
(3)
A bag used solely to contain live animals, such as fish or insects
sold in a pet store;
(4)
A bag sold in packaging containing multiple bags and packaged
at the time of manufacture of the bag.
PLASTIC
A synthetic material made from linking monomers through a
chemical reaction to create a polymer chain that can be molded or
extruded at high heat into various solid forms that retain their defined
shapes during their life cycle and after disposal, including material
derived from either petrochemicals or a biologically based polymer,
such as corn or other plant sources.
RECYCLED PAPER BAG
A paper bag that meets the following, but not including an
exempted bag:
A.
Contains no old growth fiber;
B.
Contains a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content; and
C.
Is labeled in a highly visible manner with the name of the manufacturer
and the percentage of post-consumer recycled content of the bag in
an easy-to-read font size.
RETAIL ESTABLISHMENT
A location where food or other products are offered to the
public for direct sale or delivery to a customer, including but not
limited to the following: supermarket, convenience store, service
station, delicatessen, department store, dollar store, clothing store,
restaurant, pharmacy, food truck, farmers' market, or delivery
service, but not including dry cleaners.
REUSABLE CARRYOUT BAG
A carryout bag that is designed and manufactured for multiple
uses and is:
A.
Made of cloth or other machine-washable fabric that has stitched
handles; or
B.
A polypropylene bag that has stitched handles.
Beginning 90 days after the effective date, retail establishments
are prohibited from providing a single-use plastic bag to a customer
at the retail establishment or through a delivery. Plastic straws
and utensils will be provided only upon request by the customer.
Beginning 30 days after the effective date, and for six months
thereafter, retail establishments are required to post at all points
of sale conspicuous signage informing customers that single-use plastic
bags and nonrecycled paper bags will no longer be provided by the
establishment as of the date the prohibition begins, explaining what
types of bags and purchases are impacted, and providing any other
information Whitemarsh Township may require by regulation.
This ordinance shall take effect on October 11, 2023.