Dear Friends & Neighbors,

(Please click on red links & note magenta)

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Starting Jan. 1., 2023, if you want a plastic bag at the store, you must pay 10 cents for that bag in Colorado. It’s Colorado’s effort to reduce waste. However, a reusable bag  at a local Walmart costs 79 cents. It might seem like a lot but in the long run, it will save you money. You might be wondering why this is all happening. It’s part of House Bill 21-1162, a bill issuing a new Carryout Bag Fee, in the video published on Dec 28, 2022, by KOAA 5, as “New year, new fee for plastic bags“, below:

As Canadian stores phase out single-use plastic shopping bags, some shoppers who use online delivery services say they’re becoming overwhelmed with reusable ones — more than they could ever reuse, in the video published on Dec 19, 2022, by CBC News: The National, as “Plastic bag ban leaves some shoppers overwhelmed with reusable bags“, below:

Back in 2020, single-use plastic bags were officially banned in New York State on March 1, 2020, in the video published on March 1, 2020, by NowThis Earth, as “Does Single-Use Plastic Bag Ban Work?| One Small Step| NowThis“, below:

In this Our Changing Climate environmental video essay, I look at the environmental impact of plastic bags. Specifically, I look at how plastic bags affect oceans via microplastics, their carbon footprint, and I also try to understand whether reusable bags are viable alternatives, in the video published on Aug 3, 2018, by Our Changing Climate, as “Here’s how plastic bags impact the environment“, below:

Whales washed ashore with their stomachs filled with plastic bottles. Turtles choked by six-pack rings. We’ve seen the dramatic effect plastic has on marine life. But the far-more-common danger of plastic pollution is actually… invisible, in the video published on Feb 17, 2022, by Brut America, as “The Hidden Dangers of Plastics Pollution for Marine Animals“, below:

For more details in plastic bag bans in the United States, please refer to the excerpt, in italics, and Summary chart, from wikipedia, below:

There is no national plastic bag fee or ban currently in effect in the United States. However, the states of California,^[1] Connecticut,^[2] Delaware,^[3] Hawaii (de facto), Maine, New Jersey,^[4] New York,^[5] Oregon,^[6] Vermont,^[7] and Washington,^[8] and the territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, United States Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico^[9] have banned disposable bags. Additionally, the Colorado General Assembly passed a law banning disposable bags in Colorado which will take effect in 2024.^[10]Over 200 counties and municipalities have enacted ordinances either imposing a fee on plastic bags or banning them outright, including all counties in Hawaii.^[11]

Some attempts at banning plastic shopping bags statewide (for example in Massachusetts, though as of May 2022, 152 cities and towns in the state have done so^[12]) have not succeeded mainly due to plastic industry lobbying.^[13] A few jurisdictions have chosen to implement a fee-only approach to bag reduction such as Washington, D.C., Montgomery County, Maryland, and certain counties in Virginia.^{[which?][14][15]} Some state legislatures, such as the Florida Legislature and the Arizona State Legislature, have passed laws preventing local municipalities from passing their own bans.^[16] Some retailers have stopped using plastic bags ahead of government mandates.^[17]

Summary of plastic bag laws

Local laws governing plastic bag use in the United States hide

State/Territory	Jurisdiction	Passage date	Effective date	Effect
Alaska
	City of Bethel	July 2009	September 2010	Plastic bag ban.[18]
	City of Homer	August 2012	January 2013	Plastic bag ban.[19]
	City of Hooper Bay		August 2010	Plastic bag ban.[20]
	City of Wasilla	January 2018	July 2018	Plastic bag ban.[21]
	City of Kodiak	January 2018	April 2018	Plastic bag ban.[22]
	City of Palmer	May 2018	January 2019	Plastic bag ban.[23]
	City-Borough of Anchorage	August 2018	September 2019	Plastic bag ban, 10 cent charge for paper bags.[note 1][24][25]
	Unalaska	August 2018	January 2019	Plastic bag ban[26]
American Samoa	Territory-wide	January 2010	February 2011	Plastic bag ban for all wholesale and retail businesses.[27]
California	Statewide	September 2014	November 2016[1]	Plastic bag ban for large retailers; 10 cent charge for paper bags. All local ordinances (listed below) supersede this legislation.
Colorado1	Statewide	July 2021	January 2024	Plastic bag ban for large retailers to be enacted in 2024, Following a plastic bag fee in 2023.[10]
	City of Aspen	October 2011	May 2012	Plastic bag ban for large retailers; 20 cent charge for paper bags.[28]
	Town of Avon		1 May 2018	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent tax on paper bags.[29]
	City of Boulder	November 2012	July 2013	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[30]
	City of Carbondale	October 2011	May 2012	Plastic bag ban for large retailers; 20 cent charge for paper bags.[30]
	Town of Crested Butte	15 August 2016	1 September 2018	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[31]
	City of Denver	December 2019	1 July 2020	10 cent charge.[32]
	City of Fort Collins	7 April 2021	1 May 2022	Plastic bag ban at grocers with more than 10,000 square feet.[33]
	Town of Ridgway	12 December 2018	1 March 2019	Plastic bag ban; bags are banned under 2.25 mils.[29]
	Town of Telluride	October 2010	March 2011	Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.[34]
Connecticut	Statewide		July 1, 2021	Plastic bag ban.[2]
	Town of Greenwich	12 March 2018[35]	September 2018	Plastic bag ban. Sunsets in 3 years. Paper bags must contain 40% post-consumer content and no old-growth fiber.[36]
	Town of Norwalk	8 January 2018[37]	8 July 2018	Plastic bag ban.
	Town of Westport	September 2008	March 2009	Plastic bag ban. Defines acceptable “recyclable paper bag” alternatives.[38]
Delaware	Statewide	29 July 2019[3]	1 January 2021	Plastic bag ban applies to large stores (7,000 square feet or larger) and chains with 3 stores each larger than 3,000 square feet. Paper and reusable bags have a 10¢ fee. Compostable bags allowed.[39]
District of Columbia	District-wide	June 2009	August 2009	Minimum 5 cent fee for plastic bags.[40]
Georgia	City of South Fulton	October 2019	1 March 2021	Single-use plastic bag ban.[41]
Guam	Territory-wide	5 June 2018	1 January 2021	Plastic bag ban.[42]
Hawaii2
	Hawaii County	December 2011	January 2013	Ban on compostable and non-compostable plastic checkout bags. Allows plastic bags at least 3 mils.[43]
	Honolulu City and County	2014	July 2015	Bill 10 in 2010 banned some plastic checkout bags but allowed biodegradable bags. Bill 38 in 2014 banned biodegradable plastic checkout bags but allowed compostable plastic bags. Plastic bags still allowed for carrying food and drinks, plastic bags at least 2.25 mils allowed.[44]
	Kauai County	October 2009	January 2011	Ban on plastic checkout bags made with fossil fuels. Biodegradable bags allowed.[45]
	Maui County	August 2008		Ban on compostable and non-compostable plastic checkout bags. Allows plastic bags at least 3 mils.[46]
Illinois
	Chicago	November 2016	1 February 2017	Plastic and paper bags from retailers are taxed 7-cents per bag. Tax does not apply to bags with a retail price of at least 50¢.[47][48] Chicago repealed the ban it had passed 30 April 2014 that went into effect starting 1 August 2015. Reusable bags were defined as being at least 2.25 mils.[49][50]
	City of Evanston	28 July 2014	1 August 2015	Bans plastic bags less than 2.25 mils at chain and franchise stores over 10,000 square feet. Biodegradable bags allowed.[51]
	City of Woodstock	17 September 2019	1 January 2020	10-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags in stores with at least 5000 square feet.[52]
	City of Edwardsville	1 April 2020	12 July 2021	10-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags in stores with at least 7000 square feet.[53]
	Village of Oak Park	7 August 2017	1 July 2018	10-cent fee on single-use plastic and paper bags in stores with at least 5000 square feet.[54]
Maine
	Statewide	17 June 2019	1 July 2021	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags have a 5¢ fee.[55][56]
	Town of Falmouth	January 2016	1 April 2016	5-cent fee for single-use plastic (and paper) bags at stores greater than 10,000 square feet. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils.[57]
	City of Portland	June 2014	15 April 2015	5-cent fee for single-use plastic (and paper) bags at pharmacies, and food and convenience stores, which is kept by the store.[58]
	City of South Portland	September 2015	1 March 2016	5-cent fee for single-use plastic (and paper) bags at pharmacies, and food and convenience stores, which is kept by the store. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[59]
	Town of York	3 November 2015	3 March 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 3 mils.[60]
Maryland	City of Baltimore	13 January 2020	1 October 2021	Plastic bag ban. Paper and other non-plastic bags have a five-cent fee.[61]
	Baltimore County			5 cent fee for plastic bags.[62]
	Town of Chestertown	4 April 2011	January 2012	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[63]
	Town of Easton	13 September 2022	2 April 2023	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags to cost $0.10.[64]
	Montgomery County	May 2011	January 2012	Minimum 5 cent fee for plastic bags.[65]
	Howard County	5 February 2020	1 October 2020	5 cent fee for plastic bags.[66]
	City of Salisbury	14 November 2022	1 July 2023	Plastic bag ban.[67]
	City of Westminster	May 2019	1 January 2020	Plastic bag ban.[68]
	City of Takoma Park	27 July 2016	1 December 2016	Plastic bag ban.[69]
Massachusetts
	Town of Adams	20 June 2016	30 March 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[70][71]
	City of Amesbury	12 March 2019[72]	12 September 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[73]
	Town of Amherst	3 May 2016	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[74]
	Town of Andover	2 May 2018	2 January 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils and if plastic must be made of polypropylene or polyester.[75]
	Town of Aquinnah	10 May 2016	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[76]
	Town of Arlington	26 April 2017	1 March 2018 (large stores)[77]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Arlington	26 April 2017	1 July 2018 (for all stores)[77]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Auburn	7 October 2019[78]	March 2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[79]
	Town of Barnstable	3 September 2015	September 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[80][81]
	Town of Bedford	27 March 2017	1 October 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[82]
	Town of Belmont	16 July 2018	17 April 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4.0 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[83]
	City of Beverly	18 June 2018	1 January 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[84][85]
	City of Boston	17 December 2017[86]	December 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Fee of 5¢ on single-use bags. Compostable plastic bags allowed.
	Town of Bridgewater	8 March 2016	September 2016	Plastic bag ban for chain and larger stores (basically 3000 square feet). Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[87]
	Town of Brookline	November 2012	1 December 2013	Non-biodegradable plastic shopping bag ban for larger retailers (basically 2500 square feet), and produce bags for large supermarkets (6000 square feet). Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils (as amended on 15 November 2016).[88]
	Town of Burlington	28 January 2019	28 June 2019	Plastic shopping bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 3 mils thick. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[89]
	City of Cambridge	30 March 2015	31 March 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Fee of 10¢ on single-use bags. Compostable plastic bags allowed.[90]
	Town of Chatham	16 November 2015	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[91]
	Town of Chilmark	25 April 2016	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[92]
	Town of Cohasset	30 April 2018[93]	1 November 2018	Non-biodegradable plastic shopping bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 4 mils thick. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Concord	April 2015	1 January 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[94]
	Town of Dartmouth	5 June 2018[95]	late 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 1 mil.[96]
	Town of Duxbury	13 March 2017[97]	2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.
	Town of Easton	12 November 2019	June 2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be at least 4 mils thick.[98]
	Town of Eastham	6 May 2019	1 January 2020	Plastic bag ban.[99]
	Town of Edgartown	12 April 2016	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[100]
	Town of Falmouth	November 2014	May 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[101]
	Town of Framingham	12 May 2016	1 January 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[102]
	Town of Franklin	12 February 2020	1 July 2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must have stitched handles and cannot made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[103]
	Town of Georgetown	7 May 2018[104]	September 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be more than 2.5 mils.[105]
	City of Gloucester	14 November 2017	1 January 2019	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 2.25 mils.[106]
	Town of Grafton	May 2017	1 July 2018	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Great Barrington	May 2013	2013	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[107]
	City of Greenfield	16 January 2019[108]	January 2020	Plastic bag ban. Fee of 5¢ on paper bags goes into effect in January, 2021.
	Town of Hadley	5 May 2022	1 January 2023	Single-use plastic bag ban.[109]
	Town of Hamilton	11 April 2015	27 July 2016	Non-biodegradable plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[110]
	Town of Hanson	7 October 2019	1 June 2020	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 20% or 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[111]
	Town of Harwich	4 May 2015	May 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.5 mils.[112]
	City of Haverhill	7 August 2018[113]	7 January 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Hudson	18 November 2019	1 June 2020	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 20% or 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Reusable plastic bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride.[114]
	Town of Hull	6 May 2019	1 January 2020	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[115]
	Town of Ipswich	10 May 2016	c. August 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[116]
	Town of Lee	10 May 2016	10 May 2017	Plastic bag ban including produce bags. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[117]
	Town of Lenox	9 June 2016	9 June 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[118]
	Town of Lexington	27 March 2018	1 January 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[119]
	Town of Lincoln	24 March 2018	1 January 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[120]
	Town of Longmeadow	16 October 2018[121]	16 April 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	City of Lowell	29 May 2018	1 January 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[122]
	Town of Lunenburg	13 November 2018	1 July 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 2.5 mils.[123]
	City of Lynn	April 9, 2019	1 September 2019	Plastic bag ban.[124]
	Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea	April 2013	January 2014	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be greater than 2.5 mils. Compostable plastic bags allowed.[125]
	Town of Marblehead	5 May 2014	May 2015	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[126]
	Town of Mashpee	17 October 2016	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[127]
	Town of Medfield	28 April 2019[128]	1 November 2019	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	City of Medford	February 2019	16 July 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[129]
	Town of Medway	19 November 2019	1 July 2020	Plastic bag ban.[130]
	City of Melrose	18 December 2017	1 July 2018[131]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
	Town of Milton	23 October 2018	1 July 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils and not made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[132]
	Town of Natick	10 January 2017	1 August 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2 mils. Paper bags must have at least 40% post-consumer recycled content.[133][134]
	City of Newburyport	8 September 2014	29 March 2015	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils.[135]
	City of Newton	20 January 2015	July 2015	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[136] And as amended on 8 July 2019, reusable bags must be more than 4 mils and not made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and there is a fee of 10¢ on all shopping bags.[137]
	Town of North Attleborough	3 June 2019[138]	2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Compostable bags allowed.[139]
	City of Northampton	May 2015[140]	1 January 2016	Plastic shopping bag ban. Reusable bags must be non-plastic. Ban includes produce bags which allows for certified compostable replacements. As amended on 25 January 2021.[141]
Town of Oak Bluffs	12 April 2017	1 January 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.
City of Peabody	24 October 2019	1 September 2020	Plastic bag ban.[142] Reusable plastic bags must be more than 5 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[143]
Town of Pembroke	23 October 2018	1 July 2019	Plastic bag ban.[144]
Town of Pepperell	21 October 2018	1 January 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[145]
Town of Plainville	3 June 2019[138]	2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[146]
Town of Plymouth	15 October 2016	c. August 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[147]
Town of Provincetown	27 October 2014	15 April 2015	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 1.5 mils.[148]
City of Quincy	2 December 2019		Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[149]
Town of Reading	16 November 2017	2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[150]
City of Revere	22 April 2019	1 September 2019[151]	Single-use plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Reusable bags must be more than 4 mils.[140][152]
Town of Rockport	17 September 2017	1 March 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride, and must be more than 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Compostable plastic bags are permitted.[153]
Town of Sandwich	28 November 2016	May 2017	Plastic shopping and produce bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[154]
Town of Saugus	6 May 2019	1 January 2020	Plastic shopping bag ban.[155]
Town of Seekonk	13 May 2019[156]	1 January 2020	Plastic shopping bag ban.
Town of Scituate	14 November 2018[157]	1 March 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags cannot be made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[158]
Town of Sharon	1 May 2019	2020[159]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils and not made of polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[160]
Town of Shrewsbury	17 May 2016	1 July 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[161]
City of Somerville	24 November 2015	24 November 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must pass a 22-pound walk test. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[162]
Town of South Hadley	10 May 2017[163]	1 July 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Compostable bags allowed.
City of Springfield	24 April 2019[164]	1 January 2020	Plastic bag ban except for those that are compostable and marine degradable. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils and not made of polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate or polyvinyl chloride. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Stockbridge	2 April 2017	2 January 2018[165]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Stoneham	4 November 2019	May 2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[166]
Town of Tewksbury	2 October 2018[167]	1 April 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[168]
Town of Tisbury	12 April 2016	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[100]
Town of Truro	5 November 2015	1 June 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 1.5 mils.[169]
City of Waltham	27 December 2021	25 June 2022	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[170] Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer, recycled paper content. There is a fee of 10¢ on all shopping bags.[171]
Town of Watertown	7 June 2016	1 July 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer, recycled paper content.[172]
Town of Wayland	3 April 2017[173]	2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Wellesley	11 April 2016[174]	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Wellfleet	April 2015	1 January 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3.5 mils.[175]
Town of West Tisbury	12 April 2016	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[100]
Town of Westborough	17 March 2018	17 September 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Weston	10 May 2017	1 January 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[176]
Town of Williamstown	19 May 2015	November 2015	Plastic bag ban including produce bags and dry cleaning bags. Reusable shopping bags must be at least 4 mils.[177]
Town of Wilmington	5 May 2018[178]	6 May 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable shopping bags must be more than 2.5 mils.[179]
City of Worcester	15 October 2019	1 July 2020[180]	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 3 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content. Fee of 5¢ on single-use bags. Compostable plastic bags allowed.[181]
Town of Wrentham	3 June 2019[138]	2020	Plastic bag ban. Reusable shopping bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.
Town of Yarmouth	6 May 2017	May 2018	Plastic shopping and produce bag ban. Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled paper content.[182]
Minnesota 4	City of Duluth	November 2019	April 2020	5 cent charge[183]
	City of Minneapolis	26 November 2019	1 January 2020	5 cent charge[184]
New Jersey
	Statewide	4 November 2020	4 May 2022	Single-use plastic bags, polystyrene foam, and single-use paper bags (in grocery stores larger than 2500 sq ft) banned.[185]
	Borough of Avalon	12 September 2018	1 June 2019	Single-use plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam banned.[186]
	City of Brigantine	5 September 2018	1 June 2019	Single-use plastic bags banned.[187]
	Borough of Glen Rock	10 April 2019	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bags banned. Minimum of $.10 fee for reusable and recyclable paper bags.[188]
	Jersey City	27 June 2018	28 June 2019	Single-use plastic and non-recyclable paper bags banned.[189]
	Borough of Longport	20 November 2015	2015	A fee of not less than ten cents for each non-reusable carryout bag. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[190]
	Borough of Paramus	17 December 2019	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bags banned.[191]
	Village of Ridgewood	June 2019	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bags banned.[192]
	City of Somers Point	7 July 2018	9 January 2019	A fee of not less than five cents for each non-reusable carryout bag, excluding plastic bags without handles for bulk foods. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[193][194]
	Borough of Stone Harbor	12 September 2018	1 June 2019	Single-use plastic bags, straws, and styrofoam banned.[186]
	City of Ventnor	22 February 2018	1 October 2018	A fee of not less than five cents for each non-reusable carryout paper or plastic bags.[195]
New Mexico	City of Santa Fe	August 2013	January 2014	Plastic bag ban thinner than 2.25 mm.[196]
	Town of Taos	March 10, 2020	November 1, 2021	Plastic bag ban  mm.[197]
	City of Las Cruces	August 16, 2021	January 1, 2022	Single-use plastic bag ban.[198]
	City of Albuquerque	April 20, 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[199] Repealed on 7 March 2022.[200]
	City of Deming	November 2019	May 16, 2021	Single-use plastic bag ban.[201]
	Town of Silver City	July 8, 2014	January 8, 2015	Single-use plastic bag ban.[202]
	County of Bernalillo	June 25, 2019	January 1, 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[203]
New York	Statewide	April 22, 2019	March 1, 2020[5]	Plastic bag ban. Counties can impose 5¢ fee on paper.[204]
	East Hampton Village	August 2011	February 2012	Plastic bag ban.[205]
	Village of Hastings on Hudson, Town of Greenburgh	November 2014	February 2015	Plastic bag ban.[206]
	Village of Mamaroneck	July 2012	January 2013	Plastic bag ban.[207]
	Town of New Castle	31 May 2016	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must be at least 40% recycled and carry a 10¢ charge. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. Minimum 25¢ charge for reusable bags at grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies.[208][209]
	Village of New Paltz	22 October 2014	1 April 2015	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. Paper bags must contain “a minimum of 40% postconsumer recycled content”.[210]
	Village of Patchogue	8 June 2015	6 September 2016	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[211]
	City of Rye	December 2011	May 2012	Plastic bag ban.[212]
	Village of Southampton	April 2011	November 2011	Plastic bag ban.[213]
	Suffolk County	September 2016	January 2018	5¢ fee for single-use plastic and paper bags. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils.[214]
	Ulster County	September 2018	July 2019	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils. Paper bags must contain “a minimum of 40% postconsumer recycled content. 5¢ fee for single-use plastic and paper bags.[215]
North Carolina	Outer Banks (Dare, Currituck, and Hyde Counties)	June 2009	1 October 2010	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. Paper bags must be at least 40% recycled.[216]
Northern Mariana Islands	Territory-wide			Plastic bag ban.[217][218]
Ohio	Cuyahoga County	28 May 2019	1 January 2020	Plastic bag ban.[219]
	City of Cincinnati	September 2020	16 January 2022	Prohibits most single-use plastic and paper bags from grocery stores, restaurants, and other establishments that sell food.[220]
	City of Bexley	May 2019	1 January 2020	Plastic bag ban.[221]
Oregon
	Statewide		January 1, 2020	Plastic bag ban; 5 cent charge for paper bags.[6]
	City of Corvallis	July 2012		Plastic bag ban; 5 cent charge for paper bags.
	City of Eugene	October 2012	1 May 2013	Plastic bag ban; 5 cent charge for paper bags. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[222]
	City of Portland	July 2011	October 2011	Plastic bag ban.[223] Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[224]
Pennsylvania	Borough of Ambler	16 August 2022	16 August 2022	Plastic bag and expanded polystyrene ban.[225]
	Borough of Doylestown	19 December 2022	17 June 2023	Single-use plastic bag ban.[226]
	Easttown Township	20 June 2022	1 January 2023	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags must contain at last 40% recycled content.[227][228]
	Haverford Township	11 April 2022	1 January 2023	Plastic bag and stirrer ban.[229]
	Borough of Media	21 July 2022	1 January 2023	Plastic bag ban.[230]
	Borough of Narberth	18 October 2018	18 April 2019	Plastic bag ban.[231]
	City of Pittsburgh	11 April 2022	12 April 2023	Plastic bag ban; 10-cent charge for paper bags.[232]
	City of Philadelphia	December 2019	1 October 2021	Plastic bag ban.[233]
	Radnor Township	15 August 2022	15 February 2023	Plastic bag ban; 10-cent charge for paper bags.[234]
	Solebury Township	21 June 2022	19 September 2022	Plastic bag, straw, and polystyrene food container ban. 10-cent charge for recyclable paper bags.[235]
	Tredyffrin Township	19 September 2022	18 March 2023	Plastic bag ban.[236]
	Borough of West Chester	July 2019	1 January 2022	Plastic bag and straw ban.[237]
	West Goshen Township	21 December 2021	22 April 2022	Plastic bag and straw ban.[238]
	West Norriton Township	8 November 2022	22 April 2023	Plastic bag ban.[239]
Rhode Island	State-wide	29 June 2022	1 January 2024 or one year after the Department of Environmental Management sets up regulations, whichever comes first	Plastic bag ban.[240]
	Town of Barrington	October 2012	January 2013	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils (as amended on 1 February 2016).[241]
	Town of Bristol			Plastic bag ban.[242]
	City of Cranston	22 August 2019	1 January 2021	Single-use plastic bag ban.[243]
	Town of East Greenwich	15 October 2019	15 January 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[244]
	City of East Providence	7 May 2019	7 November 2019	Single-use plastic bag ban.[245]
	Town of Jamestown	18 September 2017	1 November 2017	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils.[246]
	Town of Middletown	1 May 2017	1 November 2017	Single-use plastic bag ban.[247]
	Town of Narragansett	8 February 2022	1 January 2023	Single-use plastic bag ban.[248]
	City of Newport		1 November 2017	Single-use plastic bag ban.[249]
	Town of New Shoreham		1 January 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[250]
	Town of Portsmouth	12 March 2019	1 September 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[251]
	City of Providence	1 May 2019	22 October 2019	Single-use plastic bag ban.[252]
	Town of South Kingstown	June 2018	1 January 2019	Single-use plastic bag ban.[253]
	Town of Warren	12 June 2018	12 December 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[254]
	Town of Westerly	22 April 2019	1 January 2020	Prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic carryout bags at retail stores, restaurants and farmers markets.[255]
Puerto Rico	Territory-wide	October 2015	July 2016	Plastic bag ban.[9]
South Carolina	Town of Arcadia Lakes	7 February 2019	1 March 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.
	Beaufort County	22 January 2018	1 November 2018	Prohibits businesses within unincorporated county limits from providing single use plastic carryout bags to customers.[256]
	Town of Bluffton	13 February 2018	1 November 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[257]
	City of Camden	26 March 2019	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[258]
	City of Charleston	27 November 2018	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[259]
	County of Charleston	March 2019	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[260]
	Town of Edisto Beach	11 April 2019	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[261]
	Town of Hilton Head Island	10 January 2018	1 November 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[262]
	City of Isle of Palms	March 2019	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[263]
	Town of James Island	November 2019	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[264]
	Town of Mount Pleasant	10 April 2018	16 April 2019.	Single-use plastic bag ban.[265]
	City of North Myrtle Beach	15 November 2021	1 July 2022	Single-use plastic bag ban.[266]
	Town of Port Royal	14 February 2018	1 November 2019	Single-use plastic bag ban.[267]
	Town of Seabrook Island	23 July 2019	1 January 2020	Single-use plastic bag ban.[268]
	Town of Surfside Beach	23 January 2018	1 June 2018	Single-use plastic bag ban.[269]
Texas3	City of Austin	March 2012	March 2013	Plastic bag and paper bag ban. Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils.[270]Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[271]
	City of Brownsville	15 December 2009	5 January 2011	Single-use bag ban. $1 charge per transaction for any number of single-use plastic or paper bags. Reusable bags must be at least 4 mils if plastic or 65# if paper.[272] Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[271]
	City of Dallas	March 2014	January 2015	5¢ fee for single-use plastic and paper bags. (Ban on all single-use bags on city property or city events.) Reusable plastic bags must be at least 4 mils.[273] Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[271]
	City of Fort Stockton		September 2011	Plastic bag ban. Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[271]
	City of South Padre Island	January 2011	January 2012	Plastic bag ban.[274] Overturned by Texas Supreme Court in 2018.[271]
United States Virgin Islands	Territory-wide	7 October 2016	1 January 2017	Plastic bag ban.[275]
Utah	City of Moab	10 September 2018	1 January 2019	Plastic bag ban.[276]
	City of Park City	15 May 2017	June 2017	Plastic bag ban.[277]
	City of Logan	3 December 2019	1 January 2022	Plastic bag ban.[278] Repealed on 7 December 2021.[279]
Vermont	Statewide	17 June 2019	1 July 2020	Plastic bag ban. Paper bags have a 10¢ fee.[7]
	Town of Brattleboro	21 November 2017[280]	1 July 2018	Plastic bag ban. Plastic reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils thick. Certified compostable bags allowed.[281]
Virginia	Albemarle County	4 May 2022	1 January 2023	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[282]
	City of Alexandria	18 September 2021	1 January 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[283]
	Arlington County	18 September 2021	1 January 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[284]
	City of Charlottesville	1 August 2022	1 January 2023	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[285]
	City of Fairfax	12 July 2022	1 January 2023	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[286]
	Fairfax County	14 September 2021	1 January 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[284]
	City of Falls Church	13 December 2021	1 April 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[287]
	City of Fredericksburg	28 September 2021	1 January 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[288]
	Loudoun County	18 January 2022	1 July 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[289]
	City of Roanoke	17 May 2021	1 January 2022	Five-cent tax on lightweight plastic bags.[290]
Washington	Statewide	25 March 2020	1 October 2021	Plastic bag ban. 8 cent charge for paper bags.[291][292] Implementation delayed from January to July 2021 by COVID-19 pandemic.[293][294]
	City of Bainbridge Island	April 2012	November 2012	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[295]
	City of Bellingham	July 2011	July 2012	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent minimum charge for paper bags.[296]
	City of Edmonds		July 2009	Plastic bag ban.
	City of Ellensburg	7 November 2016	1 January 2018	Plastic and paper bag fee. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. 5 cent charge for all carry-out bags.[297][298]
	City of Issaquah	June 2012	March 2013	Plastic bag ban.[299]
	City of Mukilteo	December 2011	January 2013	Plastic bag ban.[300]
	City of North Bend	December 2018	1 January 2019	Plastic bag ban.[301]
	City of Olympia	October 2013	July 2014	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[302]
	City of Port Angeles	3 April 2018	3 July 2018	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. 5 cent charge for all carry-out bags.[303]
	City of Port Townsend	July 2012	November 2012	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[304]
	City of Seattle	December 2011	July 2012	Plastic bag ban. Reusable bags must be at least 2.25 mils. Minimum 5 cent charge for paper bags.[305]
	City of Shoreline	April 2013	February 2014	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[306]
	Thurston County (unincorporated areas)	September 2013	July 2014	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[307]
	City of Tacoma	July 2016	12 July 2017	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent minimum charge for each recycled paper or reusable checkout bag requested by customers.
	City of Tumwater	September 2013	July 2014	Plastic bag ban. 5 cent charge for paper bags.[308]
Wyoming	City of Jackson	8 January 2019	15 April 2019	Plastic bag ban.[309]

Notes

• ¹ The City of Fort Collins, Colorado passed a 5¢ fee on single-use bags on 19 August 2014, and repealed it on 21 October 2014.
• ² Although the state of Hawaii does not ban plastic bags, all of its local jurisdictions do, effectively banning them statewide.^[310]
• ³ On June 22, 2018, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a bag ban implemented by Laredo, TX was in violation of state law.^[311] In response, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sent letters to 11 other Texas cities with bag bans telling them that such bans were now illegal and unenforceable. On July 3, 2018, the City of Austin announced that it would end enforcement of its bag ban.^[312]
• ⁴Minnesota has a preemption on local laws that ban plastic bags, but allows for fees on them instead.^[313]

California

Californians voted in November 2016 to approve state legislation banning plastic bags statewide in Propositions 67 and 65.^[314] Over 100 local laws with similar or tougher regulations will remain and supersede the statewide legislation.

Notes:

• ¹ The San Mateo County Environmental Impact Report also studied six cities in neighboring Santa Clara County. Campbell, Los Altos, Los Gatos, and Mountain View opted to join San Mateo County’s ordinance because of this.

Gathered, written, and posted by Windermere Sun-Susan Sun Nunamaker   More about the community at www.WindermereSun.com

Any comments, suggestions, concerns regarding this post will be welcomed at info.WindermereSun@gmail.com

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