Categories: Philly

Plastic Bag Ban Banned: Pro-Plastic Philadelphia & ShopRite Protests?

City Council voted against the plastic bag ban the Committee on the Environment passed last week. According to Philly.com, Councilman Frank DiCicco’s bill was rejected by Council this morning in a 6-10 vote.

Word is that protesters such as ShopRite and the plastics industry lobbied against the bill, causing its demise. Opponents to the bill claimed that banning plastic bags would force many stores to use paper, which “has an even greater environmental impact.”  (this is debatable, but the eco-friendliest option is to BYO(re-usable)B.)

Mayor Nutter better get cracking on this if he wants Philadelphia to be an environmental pioneer – Other cities are ahead of us with similar bans.

Ironically, today is also Mark Alan’s Hughes last day as Director of Sustainability.

Posted by Julie

Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is Editor-in-Chief of Green Philly, sharing her expertise of all things sustainable in the city of brotherly love. She enjoys long walks in the park with local beer and greening her travels, cooking & cat, Sir Floofus Drake.

Recent Posts

Mural Arts Institute closure, bike rack permits, budget hearings & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  PennDOT to repair potholes in Philly region. The…

3 days ago

Data centers are booming in the Garden State. Are local communities ready?

New Jersey is an attractive place to build a data center. Lawmakers and residents are…

4 days ago

SEPTA real-time arrivals, FDR Park lawsuit, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  SEPTA to debut digital bus stop displays. SEPTA…

1 week ago

New research shows widespread “ghost forests” in New Jersey

Scientists mapped millions of dead trees along the Atlantic coastline that show the impact of…

2 weeks ago

Why are Philly recycling rates so low? A mix of contamination, culture and systems still make it complicated in 2026.

City leaders, educators, and community advocates agreed on one thing at our recent recycling panel:…

2 weeks ago

Climate storytelling, nuclear production, & more

Catch up on the latest sustainability news:  Chinatown Stitch design moves forward. The Chinatown Stitch…

2 weeks ago