Definitions.
Philadelphia Code § 9-4901
in effect§ 9-4901. Definitions.
(1) Effective Date means the effective date of the ordinance that added this Chapter to The Philadelphia Code.
(2) Exempted Bag means:
(a) a bag without handles used inside a retail establishment by a customer to deliver perishable items to the point of sale at that establishment, such as: to package bulk items such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, or candy; to contain or wrap meats or fish; to contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods; or to contain or wrap flowers, potted plants, or similar items;
(b) a bag sold in packaging containing multiple bags and packaged at the time of manufacture of the bag; or
(c) a bag used to enclose utensils or condiments for use with prepared foods, sometimes known as a disposable utensil sleeve.
(3) Plastic means a synthetic material made from linking monomers through a chemical reaction to create a polymer chain that can be molded or extruded at high heat into various solid forms that retain their defined shapes during their life cycle and after disposal, including material derived from either petrochemicals or a biologically based polymer, such as corn or other plant sources.
(4) Recyclable Paper Bag means a paper bag that meets the following, but not including an Exempted Bag:
(a) contains no old growth fiber;
(b) contains a minimum of forty percent (40%) post-consumer recycled content; and
(c) displays the word "Recyclable" or "Recycled Content" in a highly visible manner and is labeled with the name of the manufacturer and the percentage of post-consumer recycled content of the bag in an easy-to-read font size.
(5) Retail Establishment means a location where food or other products are offered to the public for direct sale or delivery to a customer, including but not limited to the following: supermarket, convenience store, service station, department store, dollar store, clothing store, restaurant, food truck, farmers' market or delivery service, but not including dry cleaners.
(6) Plastic Bag means a bag made from plastic and made through a blown-film extrusion process, but not including an Exempted Bag.
Notes
1392.1 | Amended, Bill No. 250773 (became law November 13, 2025).
Source: City of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Code and Home Rule Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-308140Fetched: 10/27/2026