Chloe Zhang
Plastic bags are a major contaminant in Washington's recycling facilities, waterways, roadways, and environment. In 2019, the Washington state Senate passed a bill to ban single-use plastic bags. The bill came into effect on October 1, 2021, and prohibits single-use plastic carryout bags in all food service businesses, including retail and grocery stores, restaurants, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets. The ban does not apply to food banks and food assistance programs, but these programs are encouraged to reduce their use of single-use plastic bags. While the ban has been successful, there is a loophole that allows thicker reusable plastic bags to be sold if they are designed to be reusable, and Seattle residents are disappointed to see the return of these plastic bags in stores.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ban implementation | 1 October 2021 |
| Items banned | Single-use plastic carryout bags |
| Businesses affected | All food service businesses, including retail and grocery stores, restaurants, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets |
| Exemptions | Food banks and food assistance programs, plastic bags for bulk items, meat, frozen foods, flowers, etc., plastic dry-cleaner, newspaper and door-hanger bags, garbage bags, compostable food and yard waste bags |
| Charges | $0.08 for large paper bags, thick reusable plastic bags, and compostable carryout bags |
| Bag requirements | Large paper bags must contain a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content and meet composting requirements, plastic bags cannot be tinted green or brown unless certified compostable, no misleading labels such as "biodegradable", "degradable", or "decomposable" |
| Enforcement | Non-compliance may result in penalties |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic bags are a major contaminant in Washington's recycling facilities, waterways, roadways and environment
- The statewide ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect on 1 October 2021
- Plastic bags used for bulk items or to protect vegetables, meat, flowers etc. are exempt
- Businesses can charge $0.08 for large paper bags and thick reusable plastic bags
- The ban does not apply to food banks and food assistance programs
Plastic bags are a major contaminant in Washington's recycling facilities, waterways, roadways and environment
Plastic bags are a significant contaminant in Washington's recycling facilities, waterways, roads, and environment. The state's plastic bag ban aims to reduce this pollution by prohibiting single-use plastic carryout bags and imposing fees on acceptable bags in businesses. The ban, which came into effect in October 2021, applies to all food service businesses, including retail and grocery stores, restaurants, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets. It also specifies that plastic bags cannot be tinted green or brown unless they are certified compostable and prohibits the use of misleading labels such as "biodegradable," "degradable," or "decomposable."
The ban does not apply to food banks and food assistance programs, although these programs are encouraged to reduce single-use plastic bag usage. Certain types of plastic bags, such as those used for bulk items, produce, meat, flowers, and similar items, are also exempt. Plastic dry-cleaner, newspaper, and door-hanger bags are permitted but cannot be tinted. Additionally, plastic bags sold in packages intended for garbage or pet waste are exempt.
While the ban aims to reduce plastic pollution, there is a loophole that allows thicker "reusable" plastic bags to be sold if they are designed for multiple uses. These thicker bags have been observed to generate more plastic waste than thinner bags, as they are rarely used more than once despite being designed for a minimum lifetime of 125 uses. This loophole has been addressed in California and Oregon, and Washington is working towards closing it by 2026.
The transition away from single-use plastic bags involves providing technical assistance, education, and outreach materials in 17 languages to businesses and the public. The ban will benefit the state's recycling system by reducing contamination and improving the recycling and compost systems. It is also important to note that using your own reusable bag is free and encouraged, as it reduces environmental costs and litter.
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The statewide ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect on 1 October 2021
On 1 October 2021, a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect in Washington state, of which Seattle is a part. The ban prohibits single-use plastic carryout bags in all food service businesses, including retail and grocery stores, restaurants, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets. An $0.08 charge is required for large paper bags and thick reusable plastic bags, with the revenue retained by the business. The law also specifies that plastic bags cannot be tinted green or brown unless they are certified compostable, and that bags cannot be labelled with the words "biodegradable", "degradable", or "decomposable".
The ban was implemented to reduce plastic pollution, which has been described as a "frightening" buildup in the environment. Plastic bags have been identified as a major contaminant in Washington's recycling facilities, waterways, roadways, and environment, and they also clog recycling facility machinery when placed in recycling bins with other materials. The statewide ban is intended to create consistent policy and fees across Washington, and it supersedes Seattle's previous local law.
While the ban applies to most businesses, there are some exemptions. Food banks and food assistance programs are exempt, although they are encouraged to reduce single-use plastic bag usage. Plastic bags for bulk items or to protect certain products, such as vegetables, meat, frozen foods, and flowers, are also exempt. Plastic dry-cleaner, newspaper, and door-hanger bags are allowed but cannot be tinted green or brown. Plastic bags sold in packages containing multiple bags intended for garbage, pet waste, or compostable food and yard waste are also exempt.
Despite the ban, some Seattle residents have expressed disappointment about the continued use of plastic bags in stores. This is due to a loophole in the state law that allows thicker "reusable" plastic bags. These thicker bags were intended to be reused multiple times and are required to be designed for a minimum lifetime of 125 uses. However, studies have shown that these bags are rarely used more than once, leading to increased plastic waste. Seattle is now working with partners to close this loophole and eliminate thicker plastic bags.
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Plastic bags used for bulk items or to protect vegetables, meat, flowers etc. are exempt
Plastic bags have been a major contaminant in Washington's recycling facilities, waterways, roadways, and environment. To reduce plastic pollution, the state of Washington passed a law banning single-use plastic bags in 2021. The ban prohibits single-use plastic carryout bags in all food service businesses, including retail and grocery stores, restaurants, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets. An $0.08 charge is required for all large paper bags and thick reusable plastic bags.
However, plastic bags used for bulk items or to protect vegetables, meat, flowers, frozen foods, and similar items are exempt from the ban. This exemption also includes plastic bags used by customers as produce bags in stores. Additionally, the ban does not apply to food banks and food assistance programs, although these programs are encouraged to reduce their use of single-use plastic bags.
The law also specifies that certain types of plastic bags, such as those used for dry cleaning, newspapers, and door hangers, are allowed but cannot be tinted green or brown. Plastic bags sold in packages containing multiple bags intended for use as garbage bags or to contain pet waste are also exempt.
Despite the ban, some loopholes have allowed thicker "reusable" plastic bags to remain in stores, which has led to increased plastic waste and pollution. Seattle residents have expressed disappointment about the return of plastic bags, and efforts are being made to close these loopholes and eliminate plastic bags for good.
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Businesses can charge $0.08 for large paper bags and thick reusable plastic bags
Plastic bags are a major contaminant in Washington's recycling facilities, waterways, roadways, and environment. To reduce plastic pollution, the state of Washington passed a law banning single-use plastic bags in 2021. The ban prohibits single-use plastic carryout bags in all food service businesses, including retail and grocery stores, restaurants, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets.
The ban does not apply to food banks and food assistance programs, though these programs are encouraged to reduce their plastic bag use. Plastic bags for bulk items, produce, meat, frozen foods, flowers, and similar items are also exempt from the ban. Plastic bags for these purposes cannot be tinted green or brown unless they are certified compostable.
The law allows businesses to charge $0.08 for large paper bags and thick reusable plastic bags. Large paper bags are defined as those measuring 882 cubic inches or larger. They must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled content or wheat straw and be labelled with this information. Thick reusable plastic bags must be made with a minimum of 20% recycled content and have a minimum lifetime of 125 uses. The charge for these bags is a taxable retail sale, and the revenue is kept by the business.
The law also requires retail stores to show all bag charges on customer receipts. All paper bags must meet the 40% post-consumer recycled content requirement and be labelled with this percentage, regardless of whether a charge is applied.
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The ban does not apply to food banks and food assistance programs
As of October 1, 2021, a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect in Washington, which includes Seattle. The ban prohibits single-use plastic carryout bags in all food service businesses, including retail and grocery stores, restaurants, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets. An $0.08 charge is required for large paper bags and thick reusable plastic bags, with the revenue retained by the business. However, this ban does not apply to food banks and food assistance programs.
Food banks and food assistance programs are exempt from the plastic bag ban in Seattle and the rest of Washington state. This means that they are allowed to continue providing single-use plastic bags to their customers or beneficiaries without imposing any charges. This exemption ensures that those relying on food assistance have access to bags to carry their groceries and other items. While exempt, food banks and assistance programs are still encouraged to reduce single-use plastic bag usage.
The fee for bags may not be collected from anyone using a voucher or electronic benefits card issued under various assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Food Assistance Program (FAP). This ensures that those utilising these assistance programs do not incur additional costs when accessing their benefits. The exemption for food banks and assistance programs recognises the unique needs of these services and their beneficiaries.
While the ban does not apply to food banks and food assistance programs, these organisations are still encouraged to take voluntary actions to reduce the use of single-use plastic carryout bags. This can include promoting the use of reusable bags, providing alternative bag options, or working with suppliers to reduce plastic bag usage. By taking these steps, food banks and assistance programs can contribute to the broader goal of reducing plastic waste and promoting environmental sustainability.
The plastic bag ban in Seattle and Washington state aims to reduce plastic pollution and waste, benefiting the state's recycling system and environment. While food banks and food assistance programs are currently exempt from this ban, the broader shift away from single-use plastics is evident. The exemption for these essential services ensures that those in need can access bags while also recognising the unique circumstances of food assistance programs.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, as of October 1, 2021, a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect in Washington, which includes Seattle.
The ban was implemented to reduce plastic pollution, litter, and waste. Plastic bags are a major contaminant in Washington's recycling facilities, waterways, and environment.
Plastic produce bags used by customers in-store are exempt from the ban. Plastic bags for bulk items, and to protect vegetables, meat, frozen foods, flowers, etc., are also exempt. Plastic bags used by food banks and food assistance programs are not subject to the ban.
Alternatives include durable reusable bags, small paper bags, and compostable bags.
