Localmedium impact · 6/10substantive070691

Council sought to make Philadelphia supermarkets, pharmacies use recyclable, compostable bags

Official:Amending Chapter 9-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Service and Other Businesses," by adding a new Section 9-614, entitled "Mandatory Use of Recyclable and Compostable Checkout Bags," all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember DiCicco

Introduced: September 20, 2007

: Committee on the Environment

environment government

No one voted on this bill

This bill was introduced in the 2004–2007 Council term and when that term ran out. The public record shows no committee vote and no floor vote at any stage, so no member of Council ever went on record for or against it.

That is not unusual here. Of the 8,465 bills introduced between 2000 and 2025, 1,624 lapsed without a single recorded vote. Ninety percent of bills that became law carry a roll call. Three percent of lapsed bills do. How this works.

Plain-Language Summary

This bill requires supermarkets and pharmacies in Philadelphia to use recyclable paper bags, compostable plastic bags, or reusable bags for checkout purposes.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Requires supermarkets and pharmacies in Philadelphia to use recyclable paper bags, compostable plastic bags, or reusable bags for checkout purposes.
Defines specific standards for compostable plastic bags, requiring them to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International standard D6400.
Mandates that the Mayor designate a department to administer the provisions of this section, which must occur by April 1, 2008.
Applies these requirements to pharmacies, in addition to supermarkets, for the first time.