Radnor officials are considering an ordinance ending a practice of giving out plastic bags to shoppers, writes Richard Ilgenfritz for mainlinemedianews.com.

Board of Commissioners President Moira Mulroney raised the issue at a recent meeting.

A draft ordinance would impose a six-month “ask first” policy for businesses.

That means businesses would not hand out plastic bags to customers unless they asked for one.

After six months, the business would have to sell the plastic bags at 10 cents each.

A business would receive a first-offense warning for a violation. Further violations impose a $100 fine, $200 fine and $500 fine.

Reaction to the proposed ordinance was mixed. .

Commissioner Maggy Meyers has lived in two places with a similar ordinance and said it has gone smoothly. People get used to it, she said.

Commissioner Sean Farhy wasn’t so sure.

“For us to say it’s only .10 cents, or people will get used to it – maybe they will … I think that hurts the poorest of the poor, and that is really one of my major reasons why I am against this”.

A 50-signature petition submitted in the fall supports the ordinance.

The commissioners agreed to explore the issue further.

Read more at mainlinemedianews.com about the proposed plastic bag ban.