Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has officially taken sides in the national battle over plastic bags, vetoing a bill that would have prevented counties and municipalities from banning recyclable plastic bags at retail stores.

The veto is a potential victory for the promotional products industry because bag bans can potentially fertilize local markets for sales of branded reusable totes. The governor’s vote leaves the door open for such bans in the Keystone State.

In explaining his veto, Wolf stated that House Bill 1071 would have diminished local governments’ ability to make their own decisions and would have prevented them from fulfilling their obligation to protect the environment. The legislation would have also barred cities and towns from implementing fees or taxes on plastic bags.

Wolf’s decision is a blow to advocates of the plastic bag industry, including certain state legislators and business groups representing grocers and restaurateurs. They argue that bans will take away jobs from the 1,500 people who reportedly work in plastic bag manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania. “This decision will hurt workers and make Pennsylvania less competitive for the manufacturing sector,” said Phil Rozenski, senior director of sustainability at Novolex, one of 14 plastic bag manufacturers in the state.

On the other hand, Wolf’s veto is a win for local governments and environmental groups. They claim that plastic bags cause litter problems, such as cluttering landscapes, polluting oceans and posing a deadly threat to wildlife. Bag ban supporters say local governments should have the authority to combat those issues. “The City of Pittsburgh or the City of Philadelphia or any other municipality should have the tools at its disposal to deal with local problems like litter,” PA state Rep. Greg Vitali told Philly.com.

In total, eight states have reportedly instituted laws that prevent local governments from banning or taxing plastic bags. California has gone the other direction, enacting a ban on single-use plastic bags at big retailers. Several cities across the U.S. have followed suit.

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