PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia’s ban on single use plastic bags got off to a slow start Thursday, but that is part of the city's plan.
The new law has a nine-month roll-out procedure, and some retailers and shoppers seemed to be in no hurry to comply.
Grace Drust didn’t bring her own bags to the supermarket, as the new law aims to get people to do, but she said she supports the bag ban.
"Anything that saves the future for my great-great-grandchildren to come," said Drust.
"Whatever people have to do...they have to realize it. So whatever we can do to save, do it."
Conversely, there was Maureen.
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"I just didn’t take a bag because I like to see what I have in the cart, to be honest," she said.
"It’s nothing to do with saving the environment, although I should be trying to save the environment."
The store where they were shopping had plentiful supplies of plastic bags at every counter, not even a sign to note the new law. The store owner declined to comment.
Law sponsor and Philadelphia City Councilman Mark Squilla, D-1st District, said the plan involves a long lead time to help people get used to it.
"The timeline, obviously, is sometimes too fast for some people, too slow for others, but I think it’s well thought out," he said.
Signs about the law have to be posted by the end of July. Warnings begin October 1 for stores that are still giving out plastic bags, and fines for stores violating the ban begin next April.
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