As Media Borough plans for the launch of our plastic bag & straw ordinance in January 2023, we took a look at trends in other communities and businesses who are working to reduce plastic waste.
Media Borough’s plastic bag ordinance begins in January, 2023. This means that businesses in Media Borough will be prohibited from providing single use plastic bags and straws to customers. As part of the ordinance, businesses may charge an optional bag fee to help them recoup costs associated with the switch to compliant bags. Businesses in Media Borough are strongly encouraged to incorporate the bag fee starting in January for two reasons. The bag fee helps businesses recoup the costs of transitioning to reusable/paper bags, and more importantly, it is an instrumental tool in breaking consumer habits and reminding customers to bring their own bag.
One business that is getting creative in how it utilizes this bag fee and incorporates other sustainability incentives is Wegmans grocery store chain.
Wegmans grocery store has set a high bar by proactively taking action to reach their sustainability goals. Wegmans recently eliminated plastic bag use in all their Pennsylvania stores, completing the elimination across all their stores nationwide. Paper bags are available for a 5-cent charge which is donated to the local United Way chapter. Ultimately, Wegmans’ goal is to shift customers to reusable bags, the best option to solve the environmental challenge of single-use grocery bags. It is inspiring to see local retailers getting creative on how to best support this important Zero Waste movement!
With the implementation of the plastic bag ordinance in Media Borough, Media residents are encouraged to use their reusable bags, not only in the Borough, but wherever they shop.
We hope to see other neighborhood businesses and chains like Wawa adopt similar practices to support efforts across Delaware County which will reduce our plastic waste burden on our health and environment.
Media Borough has developed an informational media toolkit including signage for businesses for display at your location. See the Media Borough website HERE to download or print materials for display at your business location.