The Haverford Township Board of Commissioners has passed an ordinance  8 to 1 restricting distribution and use of plastic bags, beverage stirrers, and straws starting January 2023, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

Businesses in town in the new year will no longer be able to offer customers single-use plastic carry-out bags and stirrers.  Plastic straws can only be given out if requested.

Violators will receive a written warning. Further violations could mean a fine of up to $500.

It’s the first Delaware County community to have a plastics ban, though Radnor Township is looking at their own ordinance to ban plastic shopping bags.

The purpose is to reduce plastic waste piling up In town, fueling the climate crisis and costing taxpayers money to clean up.

Commissioner Conor Quinn, who owns a local restaurant,  voted against the ordinance, concerned mostly about the plastic straw ban for people like those with ALS.

“For people who would need a straw when they go into a place they would have to ask for one and it would be given to them under the ordinance now that we’ve passed, but I don’t think they should even have to ask for it,” Quinn said.

Read more at WHYY about Haverford’s new plastics ban.

Here’s how plastic bags impact the environment.