Maya Ellison
Delaware has been attempting to ban single-use plastic bags since 2019, with the goal of reducing plastic pollution in landfills and waterways. The original ban allowed plastic bags with a thickness of 2.25 millimeters to be considered reusable and made exceptions for smaller businesses. However, stores exploited loopholes in the law, leading to an amended law that prohibits retailers of any size from distributing any plastic carryout bags from July 1, 2022. The ban is expected to reduce plastic waste and limit the number of plastic bags that litter roads and waterways, contributing to the health of both the environment and people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of the ban | 2022 |
| Date of the ban | July 1 |
| Year of the bill | 2019 |
| Bill | House Bill 130 |
| Bill sponsor | Representative Brady |
| Co-sponsor | Senator Trey Paradee |
| Objective of the bill | To reduce beach and roadside litter, increase recycling efforts, and reduce the impact of plastic bags at regional recycling facilities |
| Types of bags banned | Plastic carryout bags, single-use plastic bags, plastic film bags |
| Stores impacted | Retail stores, major supermarkets, large stores, large retailers |
| Stores exempted | Restaurants |
| Bags allowed | Reusable bags, paper bags |
| Bags prohibited | Plastic bags of any thickness |
| Plastic bags allowed | Bags used to contain or wrap food items such as meat, fish, or coffee |
| Plastic bag usage in Delaware | 434 bags per person per year |
| Plastic bag usage in the US | 300 bags per person per year |
| Plastic bags recycled in the US | 10% |
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What You'll Learn
- The ban aims to reduce plastic pollution in landfills and waterways
- The ban includes all plastic film carryout bags regardless of thickness
- Retailers can offer paper bags or reusable bags made from cloth
- Plastic bags are dangerous to marine life and seabirds
- The ban levels the playing field for all retailers
The ban aims to reduce plastic pollution in landfills and waterways
Delaware has been working towards reducing plastic pollution through various legislative measures. The state's efforts to ban plastic bags date back to 2019, when the Delaware General Assembly passed a law prohibiting plastic carryout bags to curb littering and boost recycling efforts. However, this initial attempt faced challenges due to loopholes exploited by stores, prompting subsequent revisions to strengthen the ban.
The plastic bag ban in Delaware underwent significant revisions in 2021 and 2022, addressing the issues arising from the previous version. The amended law expanded the scope of the ban, targeting both the bags prohibited and the stores impacted. Retailers of any size were prohibited from distributing plastic carryout bags, with restaurants being the only exception. This comprehensive approach aimed to leave no room for loopholes that had undermined previous iterations of the ban.
The primary objective of Delaware's plastic bag ban is to reduce plastic pollution in landfills and waterways. According to state data, each Delawarean used approximately 434 plastic bags annually, contributing to about 2,400 tons of plastic bag waste in landfills each year. By curbing the use of plastic carryout bags, the ban aims to significantly reduce this plastic waste, preventing it from ending up in landfills and the environment.
Plastic bag pollution has severe ecological consequences, particularly when it enters waterways and oceans. Data from environmental organizations revealed that more than 100,000 marine animals and over 1 million seabirds die annually due to plastic bag pollution. With the United States contributing a significant amount of plastic bags to ocean pollution, it is essential to address this issue at the state level. Delaware's ban on plastic bags is a direct response to this pressing environmental concern.
The ban on plastic bags in Delaware is part of a broader movement towards reducing single-use plastic pollution and promoting circularity. The legislation encourages the use of reusable bags, such as those made from cloth or durable fabric with stitched handles. Additionally, the law allows stores to provide paper bags or choose not to provide any bags at all. These alternatives offer more sustainable options for consumers and help reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste.
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The ban includes all plastic film carryout bags regardless of thickness
Delaware has been working towards banning plastic bags since 2019, when the Delaware General Assembly passed a law banning plastic carryout bags to help reduce litter, increase recycling efforts, and reduce the impact of plastic bags at regional recycling facilities. The original ban allowed plastic bags with a thickness of up to 2.25 millimeters to be considered reusable and made exceptions for smaller businesses.
However, large stores exploited a loophole in the law and gave away thicker plastic bags, which many customers stockpiled. In response, the state enhanced its plastic bag ban in 2021 to include all plastic film carryout bags regardless of thickness. This new mandate prohibits retailers of any size from distributing any plastic carryout bags, with the sole exception of restaurants.
The ban is designed to reduce the negative health and environmental impacts of plastic bags. Single-use plastic bags contribute to toxic plastic particles in the food chain and are difficult to recycle, often contaminating other materials and clogging machinery in recycling facilities. Additionally, when plastic bags end up in waterways and the ocean, they pose a significant danger to marine life, with over 1 million seabirds dying from plastic bag pollution each year.
To facilitate the transition away from plastic bags, stores may provide reusable or paper bags at checkout or sell reusable bags. Reusable bags are typically made of cloth, durable fabric, or washable fabric with stitched handles. The amended law also requires retailers to set up in-store recycling programs for exempt plastic bags, such as those used for produce or to contain food items.
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Retailers can offer paper bags or reusable bags made from cloth
In response to the plastic bag ban in Delaware, retailers can offer paper bags or reusable bags made from cloth or other durable fabric with stitched handles. These bags can be washable and made from materials such as PET non-woven fabric, nylon, cotton, jute, or hemp. Reusable bags can also be defined as carryout bags made of durable or washable fabric with stitched handles.
The ban on plastic bags aims to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and pollutes the environment and waterways. Each Delawarean uses about 434 plastic bags a year, contributing to the nearly 2,400 tons of plastic bag waste in Delaware landfills annually. By banning plastic bags, the state hopes to reduce this waste and encourage the use of reusable bags.
Retailers can play a crucial role in promoting environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic bags. By offering paper bags or reusable bags made from cloth, retailers can provide customers with sustainable options that are durable and washable. This shift can help reduce the negative impact of plastic pollution on the environment and human health, as toxic plastic particles are found in the food chain.
Additionally, retailers can support the goal of this legislation by not providing plastic bags for free. Some stores, such as Aldi, Costco, and Walmart, have already taken steps in this direction. By charging a fee for paper or reusable bags, retailers can further encourage customers to bring their own bags and reduce the consumption of single-use bags.
The definition of a reusable bag has been clarified in the proposed amendments to the plastic bag ban. This includes bags made from a variety of washable fabrics or durable fabric with stitched handles, ensuring that retailers and customers have clear guidelines on acceptable alternatives to single-use plastic bags.
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Plastic bags are dangerous to marine life and seabirds
In 2019, the Delaware General Assembly passed a law banning plastic carryout bags to help reduce beach and roadside litter, increase recycling efforts, and reduce the impact of plastic bags at regional recycling facilities. The law was updated in 2021 to expand the ban to more bags and stores. Starting July 1, 2022, retail stores in Delaware are prohibited from providing plastic bags at checkout. The amended law bans retailers of any size from distributing any plastic carryout bags, with the exception of restaurants. This move is aimed at reducing plastic pollution in landfills and waterways and its negative impact on human health and the environment.
Plastic bags are indeed dangerous to marine life and seabirds. They are one of the deadliest plastic items in the ocean, killing various species, including whales, dolphins, turtles, and seabirds worldwide. Marine mammals and seabirds often mistake plastic bags for food, as they can resemble prey or get misinterpreted as food by their sonar systems. When ingested, plastic bags can cause inflammation of abdominal tissues, leading to starvation, suffocation, and toxic contamination. Additionally, plastic bags can entangle marine animals, making it difficult for them to escape, feeding or moving, ultimately leading to starvation, injury, and increased vulnerability to predators.
Seabirds, such as petrels and northern fulmars, are particularly affected by plastic bag pollution. They have difficulty regurgitating plastic, and some species are known to ingest plastic pellets and feed plastic pieces to their young. It is estimated that plastic debris causes the deaths of more than a million seabirds annually.
The impact of plastic bags on marine life extends beyond seabirds. All seven species of sea turtles from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Mediterranean oceans had traces of microplastics in their gut. Turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish or food and can become entangled in six-pack rings. Additionally, plastic bags can interfere with a turtle's ability to submerge, leading to starvation and prolonged suffering.
The threat posed by plastic bags to marine life is not limited to ingestion or entanglement. Microplastics, which can come from the disintegration of larger plastics, are invisible to the naked eye and easily consumed by marine organisms. These tiny plastic particles can adsorb toxins, which then transfer to the fatty tissues of the animals that ingest them, leading to toxic contamination.
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The ban levels the playing field for all retailers
Delaware has been working towards reducing plastic waste and pollution since 2019, when the Delaware General Assembly passed a law banning plastic carryout bags. The law was updated in 2021 to expand the types of bags banned and the stores impacted by the law.
The original ban allowed plastic bags with a thickness of 2.25 millimeters to be considered reusable and made exceptions for smaller businesses. However, larger stores exploited this loophole by giving away thicker plastic bags, which many customers stockpiled. This defeated the purpose of the law, which was to reduce plastic pollution in landfills and waterways.
The amended law, which came into effect on July 1, 2022, prohibits retailers of any size from distributing any plastic carryout bags. It levels the playing field for all retailers by ensuring that all stores are subject to the same restrictions on plastic bags. This means that retailers cannot take advantage of loopholes to give away free plastic bags, which puts all stores on equal footing in terms of bag distribution.
The ban is expected to reduce the amount of plastic waste and pollution in Delaware. It will also help to reduce the impact of plastic bags on regional recycling facilities, as plastic carryout bags can contaminate other materials being processed for recycling and clog machinery. Additionally, the ban promotes the use of reusable bags, which are more environmentally friendly and cost-effective for consumers.
Overall, the plastic bag ban in Delaware is a step towards reducing the state's environmental impact and creating a more sustainable future. By banning plastic bags at all retail stores, the law levels the playing field for all retailers and encourages the use of reusable alternatives.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Delaware banned plastic bags from retail stores starting July 1, 2022.
The ban was implemented to reduce plastic pollution in landfills and waterways, as well as to address the growing crisis of plastic pollution and its negative impact on human health and the environment.
Retail stores in Delaware can offer paper bags or reusable bags made from cloth or other durable fabric with stitched handles. Stores are not required to provide bags at all, but if they do, they can charge a fee to customers.
