Title
Amending Chapter 9-4900 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Prohibition on Use of Certain Bags by Retail Establishments," to require retail establishments to charge a fee for the provision of a bag to customers for removal of purchased items, and further defining what bags are prohibited at check out, all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
WHEREAS, notwithstanding the groundbreaking efforts of Council in establishing a ban on the use of certain plastic bags by retail establishment in the City through adoption of Bill No. 190610-A (approved December 30, 2019), additional efforts are needed to encourage shoppers to bring their own reusable bags for the purpose of removing retail items purchased at stores, in order to reduce continued overuse of single-use and thick plastic bags; now therefore,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Title 9 The Philadelphia Code is hereby amended as follows:
TITLE 9. REGULATION OF BUSINESSES, TRADES AND PROFESSIONS
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CHAPTER 9-4900. PROHIBITION ON USE OF CERTAIN BAGS
BY RETAIL ESTABLISHMENTS AND CHECKOUT BAG FEE
? 9-4901. Definitions.
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(2) Exempted Bag means:
(a) a bag without handles used inside a retail establishment by a customer to deliver perishable items to the point of sale at that establishment, such as: to package bulk items such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, or candy; to contain or wrap meats or fish; to contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods; or to contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or similar items;
(b) a bag sold in packaging containing multiple bags and packaged at the time of manufacture of the [bag.] bag; or
(c) a bag used to enclose utensils or condiments for use with prepared foods, sometimes known as a disposable utensil sleeve.
(3) Plastic means [solid material that is produced from petrochemicals and that is often used to make bags for carrying products out of retail establishments] a synthetic material made f...
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