Omar Khalid
Many stores charge customers for using plastic bags, with some states and local governments implementing plastic bag fees at grocery stores to reduce plastic pollution. The fees vary, with some stores charging a minimum of 8 cents per bag, while others charge 10 cents or more. Some states, such as California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, have banned disposable plastic bags. However, there is no national plastic bag fee or ban in the United States. The money collected from plastic bag fees is often used for environmental clean-up or conservation efforts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of states with plastic bag fees | Over 100 |
| Number of states with plastic bag bans | 10 |
| States with plastic bag fees | California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington |
| States with plastic bag bans | California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, Vermont, Washington |
| Cities with plastic bag fees | Austin, Baltimore, Boulder, Chicago, Coral Gables, Los Altos, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Palm Beach, San Mateo, St. Augustine Beach, Surfside |
| Cities with plastic bag bans | Albuquerque County, Alexandria, Alachua County, Bal Harbour, Bath, Brattleboro, Camden, Fairfax County, Falls County, Fredericksburg County, Freeport, Gainesville, Gig Harbor, Kennebunk, Louden County, North Bay Village, Norwich, Port Angeles, Quil Ceda Village, Roanoke, Rockland, Tacoma |
| Fee per bag | $0.05-$0.16 |
| Ban start dates | 2018-2024 |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic bag fees and bans in the US
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue in the United States, and many state and local governments have implemented plastic bag fees or outright bans to address this problem. These measures aim to reduce plastic waste and promote the use of reusable bags among consumers. While some states, like Florida, Arizona, and Missouri, have passed laws preventing local municipalities from enacting bans, others have embraced a range of approaches, from fees to partial or complete bans.
One common strategy is to charge a fee for single-use plastic bags, with the specific amount varying across different states and localities. For example, in Washington, D.C., a 5-cent fee is imposed on single-use plastic bags, and the revenue generated is directed towards cleaning up local waterways. Similarly, Boulder, Colorado, has had a 10-cent fee in place since 2012, with the funds allocated for purchasing reusable bags, enhancing recycling infrastructure, and educating the community. Other cities with plastic bag fees include Chicago and various communities in Illinois, where the exact usage of the collected money is less transparent.
Some states have opted for outright bans on single-use plastic bags. California, for instance, has a statewide ban, with over 100 local laws enforcing similar or stricter regulations. However, a loophole in the bag ban allowed for the sale of "reusable" plastic bags that closely resembled single-use bags in appearance and functionality. Delaware, Vermont, and Maine have also implemented statewide bans, with Maine enforcing a bill passed in 2020. Additionally, certain counties and independent cities in Virginia have banned plastic bags, despite the state having no relevant legislation.
In some cases, states have combined fees and bans in their approach to single-use plastic bags. Colorado is transitioning from a statewide plastic bag fee in 2023 to a complete ban on these bags in 2024. Similarly, Connecticut has enacted a statewide 10-cent tax on plastic bags. Washington state plans to introduce a 12-cent charge for all reusable carryout bags made of thick film plastic starting in 2026, following an 8-cent charge for recycled content paper or wheat straw paper carryout bags.
While fees and bans are effective strategies, environmentalists advocate for complete bans as a long-term solution to plastic pollution. In response to these measures, some retailers have proactively stopped using plastic bags ahead of government mandates. Overall, the diverse approaches adopted by states and local governments in the US reflect a growing recognition of the need to address plastic bag waste and encourage the adoption of reusable alternatives.
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The effectiveness of fees vs. bans
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that threatens marine and freshwater ecosystems and the services they provide. While plastic bag bans and taxes are increasingly being implemented worldwide, their effectiveness in reducing plastic litter is still uncertain. However, studies have shown that plastic bag policies can lead to a 25 to 47% decrease in plastic bags as a share of total items collected at cleanups compared to areas without such policies. This decrease becomes more pronounced over time, with no evidence of rebound or spillover effects.
Fees and bans on plastic bags have been shown to reduce plastic litter, with partial bans having the smallest impact due to exemptions for thicker plastic bags. Policies at all geographic scales are effective, with state-level policies showing the most robust results. The impact is particularly noticeable in areas where plastic bag litter is most prevalent, such as along coastlines and rivers.
Some jurisdictions, like Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Buncombe County, NC, have opted for a fee-only approach to reducing plastic bag usage. These fees are typically used to fund environmental clean-up efforts or conservation initiatives. For example, Washington, D.C.'s 5-cent single-use plastic bag fee is directed towards cleaning up local waterways, specifically the Anacostia River. In Colorado, a 10-cent fee per single-use plastic bag has been in place in Boulder since 2012, with the funds used to purchase reusable bags for the community and support recycling infrastructure.
While fees can be effective in reducing plastic bag usage, bans are considered a better long-term solution by some environmentalists. A combination of a ban and a fee has been suggested as the optimal approach by organizations like MountainTrue, as it would result in the largest reductions in waste, pollution, and energy consumption. This is because, in addition to discouraging plastic bag usage, the fee also helps to offset the potential increase in paper bag consumption that may occur following a plastic bag ban.
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The future of plastic bags in the US
Some states, such as California, have approved state legislation banning plastic bags statewide, with over 100 local laws with similar or tougher regulations remaining in place. California also requires that any reusable plastic bags available must be compostable or recyclable, and stores must offer an in-store recycling program for their bags. Other states with statewide bans on single-use plastic bags include Vermont, Delaware, Maine, and Hawaii (through its local jurisdictions).
In addition to bans and fees, some states are encouraging the use of reusable bags by requiring customers to bring their own or by charging a fee for paper bags. For example, in Washington state, there will be a 12-cent charge for all reusable carryout bags made of thick film plastic from January 1, 2026, while paper bags must be made of a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content or wheat straw.
While the trend is towards reducing plastic bag use, some states, such as Florida, Arizona, and Missouri, have passed laws preventing local municipalities from passing their own bans. Additionally, Texas previously had a bag ban in place in several cities, but in 2018, the state Supreme Court ruled that these bans were illegal and unenforceable.
Overall, the future of plastic bags in the US seems to be moving away from their use, with a combination of fees, bans, and incentives for reusable bags being implemented across the country.
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How plastic bag fees are spent
Plastic bag fees are implemented by governments to curb plastic consumption and pollution. The fees are typically spent on environmental clean-up, conservation efforts, and waste reduction management. Here are some specific examples of how plastic bag fees are spent in different locations:
Boulder, Colorado
In Boulder, stores are required to charge customers 10 cents per single-use plastic bag. Out of the 10 cents, stores can keep 4 cents to cover the cost of complying with the law, and the remaining 6 cents are given to the city. The city has used this money to purchase reusable bags for the community and food banks, compostable bin liners for businesses, community education, and recycling infrastructure.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. has a 5-cent fee for single-use plastic bags, most of which goes towards the cleanup of local waterways. The city's Department of Energy and Environment also spent a significant amount of the revenue on "outreach and reusable plastic bag distribution."
Seattle, Washington
Seattle plans to use the revenue from its 20-cent disposable bag fee for solid waste prevention, recycling programs, environmental education, promoting the switch to renewable bags, and distributing free reusable bags. The city estimates that the fee will generate about $10 million annually, with $8 million going towards these initiatives.
Ireland
Ireland has implemented a plastic bag tax, with revenues deposited into the nation's Environment Fund. This fund is used for waste management, recycling, and other environmental initiatives. The tax has been successful in reducing plastic bag use, with a significant drop in per capita usage after its implementation.
Chicago, Illinois
Chicago has implemented a Checkout Bag Tax, but it is unclear how the collected money is spent. The city has not responded to inquiries about the use of these funds.
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Plastic bag laws by state
Plastic bags are a significant source of pollution, and their use has been a growing concern for governments and environmentalists. While there is no national plastic bag fee or ban in the United States, several states and local governments have implemented plastic bag fees or outright bans to curb plastic pollution. Here is a breakdown of plastic bag laws by state:
California:
California was one of the first states to address plastic bag pollution, with Californians voting in 2016 to approve a statewide ban on plastic bags in Propositions 67 and 65. Over 100 local laws with stricter regulations also exist within the state.
Colorado:
Colorado recently mandated a statewide plastic bag fee from January 2023 to early 2024, when a complete ban on single-use plastic bags will be enforced. The city of Boulder has had a similar ordinance since 2012, charging customers 10 cents per single-use plastic bag.
Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington:
These states have also banned disposable plastic bags, with Hawaii's ban being effective statewide due to all its local jurisdictions implementing the restriction.
Arizona, Florida, and Missouri:
These states have passed laws preventing local municipalities from enacting plastic bag bans, hindering progress in addressing plastic pollution.
Texas:
The Texas Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that a bag ban implemented by Laredo, Texas, was illegal. As a result, 11 other Texas cities had to rescind their bag bans.
Minnesota:
Minnesota has a preemption on local laws banning plastic bags but allows for fees to be charged for their use.
Washington, D.C.:
The nation's capital has implemented a 5-cent fee for single-use plastic bags, with most of the revenue going toward cleaning up local waterways.
Chicago:
Chicago has also implemented a Checkout Bag Tax, although the specifics of how the collected money is spent are unclear.
While the approaches vary, the common goal is to reduce single-use plastic waste, encourage the use of reusable bags, and protect the environment. These laws are a step toward a more sustainable future, and it is expected that more states will follow suit in addressing plastic bag pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are many stores that charge for the use of plastic bags. In the US, over 100 states and localities have passed legislation mandating a fee for carryout plastic bags.
The fee for plastic bags varies across different states and localities. In Boulder, Colorado, stores charge 10 cents per single-use plastic bag. In Washington, an 8-cent charge is applied to recycled content paper or wheat straw paper carryout bags, while an upcoming law will require a 12-cent charge for all reusable carryout bags made of thick film plastic. In California, stores must charge at least 10 cents per bag.
The money collected from plastic bag fees typically goes towards environmental clean-up or conservation efforts. For example, in Washington, D.C., the 5-cent single-use plastic bag fee is used to clean up local waterways. In Boulder, Colorado, the money is used to purchase reusable bags for the community and food banks, compostable bin liners for businesses, community education, and recycling infrastructure.
