Sad news on the Plastic Bag front…

After Councilman Mark Squilla took on the twice-rejected plastic bag legislation and introduced a bill in April, and we’ve learned that the hearing scheduled for today will NOT happen.

According to an email from Clean Water Action (posted on our Facebook page),

I’m writing to thank you and let you know that Councilman Squilla has decided to pull the bag bill, due to lack of agreement among City Council members. Unfortunately, we were not able to sway enough support for the bill on such a short time table, but this gives us time to build our coalition of support that will continue to push for a bag bill next Fall or New Year when our new Mayor and City Council members are sworn in.

Bills are often put on hold when there’s not enough support – especially when council members aren’t hearing from their constituents.

What can you do?

Citizen feedback is essential! Whether you support a plastic bag fee or want to see another bill passed, contact your Philadelphia City Council member.

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Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia. View all posts by Julie Hancher