PennEnvironment defends local action to reduce plastic pollution

When local communities want to reduce plastic pollution, they should be able to vote for and enforce rules to do so — but in Pennsylvania, that’s not the case. 

When local communities want to reduce plastic pollution, they should be able to vote for and enforce rules to do so — but in Pennsylvania, that’s not the case. 

On April 13, PennEnvironment joined Clean Air Council in filing a motion to protect local laws that address single-use plastic waste. The suit was filed in response to the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s preemption rule that violates the state’s constitution and bars municipalities from enacting or enforcing anti-plastic legislation. Earlier this year, the City of Philadelphia, Borough of West Chester, Borough of Narberth, and Lower Merion Township also opposed the action, filing a petition to review the rule. 

“Pennsylvania municipalities must be empowered to address issues of plastic pollution when the state Legislature won’t,” said PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur. “We won’t stand by and let this controversial, anti-environmental policy strip control away from our communities.”

The filing comes as mounting evidence shows that plastic pollution has significant negative effects on the environment and public health.  

Read more about the suit. 

Learn more about our Zero Waste PA campaign.

Photo: Plastic pollution along the banks of the Conestoga River, which flows through Lancaster County. Credit: Staff

Mary Katherine Moore
Topics
Updates

Show More