Although municipalities across the state — including Pittsburgh and Philadelphia — have taken steps ban single-use plastic bags, a proposal to implement such a ban statewide has stalled in the Legislature.

State Rep. Brian Sims, D-182nd, introduced a bill last May to create a paper bag fee that would be split between businesses and environmental programs. The bill has been referred to House Finance Committee, where it has stalled. Sims proposes a 15 cent fee per bag for paper bags to be collected the same way sales and use taxes are paid.

Sims’ proposal would refund all of the paper bag fees a retail establishment collects if the business has annual revenue of less than $1 million, refund 50% of the fees collected if a business’ revenues are between $1 million and $10 million and keep all of the fees if the business’ revenues are more than $10 million.

Any Pennsylvania businesses found giving out plastic bags would face a $50 fine for the first violation, a $100 fine for the second violation and a $200 fine for a third or subsequent violation.

Although paper bags cost retail establishments more than plastic ones do and result in a slight additional cost to consumers, their benefit to our environment is immeasurable. They decompose. They don’t add to landfills. They don’t blow down our streets or get caught in trees.

Pennsylvanians use about 4.5 billion bags annually, of which 3 billion are the typical kind of thin, plastic grocery bag.

Ten states have plastic bag bans: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Sims’ bill comes while the statewide Commonwealth Court has been asked by Philadelphia, West Chester, Narberth and Lower Merion Township to say a state legislative action that blocks plastic bag bans is unconstitutional.

We, as consumers, have always paid for bags used in a retail or restaurant purchase, be it paper or plastic; it’s just hidden in the price of the goods on the shelf.

Everyone has a story about seeing plastic bags caught in trees or collecting like tumbleweeds on our streets.

Whether a bill to ban plastic bags ever makes its way to the governor’s desk, making the effort to reuse any bag that comes into your possession, and disposing of the bag responsibly, is key.

— JGG