In April 2022, Pittsburgh City Council unanimously passed a “plastic bag ban”, banning most single-use plastic bags and placing a $0.10 fee on paper bags to incentivize consumers to bring reusable bags. The plastic bag ban went into effect in October 2023.
Humane Action Pittsburgh was proud to play a vital role in the passage of this critical legislation. As members of Sustainable Pittsburgh’s Plastics Collaborative (which HAP has taken over – read more here!), HAP and others assisted Pittsburgh City Councilperson and author of the legislation, Erika Strassburger, in researching best practices for reducing single-use plastic across the country and communicating with the general public and businesses on why this legislation is essential.
It’s estimated that Americans use 100 billion plastic bags each year.
Why Plastic Bags?
It’s estimated that Americans use 100 billion plastic bags each year. These bags are often used only once and rarely recycled properly, leading them to litter our streets, clog recycling machines and storm drains, and eventually increase the presence of microplastics in our water and soil.
Banning plastic bags and promoting reusable alternatives will reduce plastic waste in our communities and help create a cleaner and healthier city for all residents.
The Plastics Collaborative is accepting applications for individuals and organizations!
You can read more about what HAP is doing to reduce single-use plastics and increase compostables.
Please consider donating to HAP so we can continue our work to make the world a cleaner, safer place for all to enjoy!