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Upper Darby EAC to reintroduce plastic bag reduction ordinance, will meet with council committee
Summary
Upper Darby’s Environmental Advisory Committee plans to reintroduce a plastic pollution reduction ordinance, review prior survey results and meet with Councilwoman Melissa D'Onofrio Bizon and the health/environment committee before the end of August to advance the measure.
The Upper Darby Environmental Advisory Committee agreed to reintroduce a plastic bag reduction ordinance and to meet with Councilwoman Melissa D'Onofrio Bizon and the township health and environment committee before the end of August to advance the effort.
"We would first go to Melissa and her committee," Chair Peggy Kowalski said, describing outreach to businesses and earlier survey work on the issue. Kristen Cooper said she wanted to reexamine survey responses—about 100 total—to filter for feedback from businesses likely to be affected and to present a clearer picture of impacts.
Cooper cited research estimating that adopting reductions and waste-separation practices could eliminate about 3,600 tons of plastic annually in the township and noted the township population figure used for context (about 86,000–87,000 residents). She argued the ordinance should be framed around community health and microplastic reduction rather than as a punitive measure.
Members said many local businesses already use reusable bags and recommended outreach to the business community and to Melissa’s committee to coordinate timing and messaging. The EAC plans to schedule the meeting in August and then move the initiative forward to a council resolution.
