Pittsburgh City Council votes to ban single-use plastic bags

Here are the noticeable changes and takeaways in the amended legislation:

• Retailers will be able to provide a consumer with a recycled paper bag for a fee of no less than 10 cents; the fee will be fully recouped by the retailer.
• Shoppers who use cards or vouchers from either the Women, Infants, and Children program or an EBT transfer card issued by DHS will be exempted from the 10 cent fee.
• Limited types of plastic bags will still be available for individual purchase or under certain exceptions.
• Businesses will be required to post information in their stores in advance of these changes.

Pittsburgh City Councilperson Erika Strassburger of City Council District 8 reintroduced legislation banning the distribution of single-use plastic bags on April 6.

She says the overall aim is to cut down on waste and pollution.

Strassburger says city officials will also work to help raise funds privately and publicly to get city-sponsored reusable bags, and to assist small business owners with pilot programs over the next year so they can be prepared for the official rollout.

Click here for the full text of the legislation.