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PMA comments to IFO regarding single-use polystyrene and plastic product bans

April 17, 2020 Energy

The Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association (PMA) is the nonprofit, statewide trade organization representing the manufacturing sector, 570,000 employees on plant floors, millions of additional jobs in supporting industries, and more than $93 billion in gross state product in Pennsylvania’s public policy process. We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments to the Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) as you develop analysis regarding single-use polystyrene and plastic product bans.

In August of 2018, PMA completed a study, using IMPLAN economic modeling, on the impact of banning polystyrene products in the food service industry in Pennsylvania. As noted in “Appendix A,” a ban on polystyrene products in the food service industry has the potential to impact 4,000 jobs, nearly $240 million in yearly labor income, and over $1 billion in yearly economic output. A ban on polystyrene food service and single use products has the potential to impact more then 70 percent of the entire sector; a sector that directly employs 2,591, provides $159.4 million in yearly labor income, and accounts for $946.2 million in yearly economic output. Those indirect and induced industries that would be most affected includes wholesale trade, logistics, health care, and food service. Futhermore, this analysis only focuses on the manufacturing activity and does not include impacts to the food service, health care, and retail industries paying for more expensive products and higher compliance costs.