Republicans in the Ohio legislature have passed a controversial bill that bans communities from passing bans on containers like plastic bags or Styrofoam. Gov. Mike DeWine, who once opposed the idea, says he'll sign it into law.
HB 242 prevents local governments from banning or imposing taxes on plastic bags and single-use containers for one year, a change from the original proposal. DeWine says the time limit, and the ongoing pandemic, helped change his mind.
“And I will sign the bill because it is temporary, and I think you can make an argument for it because of the COVID period," DeWine says.
DeWine has said he opposed the original idea because he thinks communities should have that control, and could help the state see if plastic bans help deal with waste.
“I think this would be a mistake,” DeWine said in December 2019. “I think the state government should allow local communities to do what they think is best in regard to this area.”
But with so many places dependent on carry-out business, DeWine says now is not the time for such bans.
While some plastic bag bans, like Cuyahoga County's, exclude restaurants from the list of businesses affected, a recent ordinance passed by Cincinnati City Council does not.
