Omar Khalid
In 2021, Washington state passed a law banning single-use plastic bags, which came into effect on October 1, 2021. The ban prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic carry-out bags by restaurants, retail, small vendor, and grocery stores. The law is intended to reduce plastic pollution, litter, and waste, and create consistent policy and fees across the state. While the ban has been enforced, some reports suggest it has not significantly reduced the amount of plastic waste in the state. In 2025, Washington's Legislature passed a new law, ESHB 1293, which makes changes to the state's single-use plastic bag ban, including delaying the required thickness increase for plastic bags from January 1, 2026, to 2028.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of ban | 1 October 2021 |
| Ban type | Single-use plastic bags |
| Aims | Reduce plastic pollution, litter, and waste |
| Exemptions | Food banks and food assistance programs, plastic bags for garbage, pet waste, or approved compostable food and yard waste, plastic bags for meat, produce, prescriptions, newspapers, or dry cleaning |
| Fee for paper bags | 8 cents |
| Fee for plastic bags | 12 cents |
| Additional fee for plastic bags 4 mil thick or greater | 4 cents |
| Fine for repeated violations | $250 |
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What You'll Learn
The ban on single-use plastic bags in Washington State
In 2020, the Washington Legislature passed a law banning single-use plastic bags in an effort to reduce plastic pollution, waste, and litter. The ban was originally scheduled to begin in January 2021, but due to health concerns and the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was delayed until October 1, 2021.
The ban prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic carry-out bags by restaurants, retail stores, small vendors, and grocery stores. It also requires retailers and restaurants to collect a pass-through charge for paper or reusable bags provided to customers. This charge was initially set at $0.08 per bag and was considered a taxable retail sale. The law also specifies that produce bags and thick reusable plastic bags cannot be printed with the words "biodegradable", "degradable", or "decomposable".
While most businesses complied with the ban, there were some reports of non-compliance, with 669 enforcement actions taken between October 2021 and July 2024. The state of Washington also provided educational resources and outreach materials to businesses and the public to facilitate the transition to reusable bags.
In May 2025, a new law was signed by Governor Bob Ferguson that increased penalties for littering and delayed the requirement for thicker bags until 2028. Under this law, retailers who sell reusable plastic bags with a thickness of at least four mils before 2028 will be penalized four cents per bag, resulting in a total charge of 16 cents for each bag. The four-cent penalty will be deposited into the Waste Reduction, Recycling, and Litter Control Account.
The statewide plastic bag ban in Washington is expected to reduce plastic waste and contamination in recycling and compost systems. However, as of August 2024, studies have shown that the ban has not significantly reduced the total weight of discarded plastic.
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The impact of the ban on plastic waste
Washington's ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect on October 1, 2021, with the goal of reducing plastic waste by changing shopping habits. The ban prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic carry-out bags by restaurants, retail, small vendor, and grocery stores.
A study by Waste Connections found little change in the total weight of plastic being recycled since the ban was implemented. This may be due to the heavier weight of reusable plastic bags, which has resulted in a similar total weight of plastic waste despite a potential reduction in the number of plastic bags used.
However, it is important to note that the ban is still in its early stages, and further refinements to the law could increase its effectiveness in reducing plastic waste. For example, a study from California found that bag bans can be undermined by low per-bag fees that do not deter usage, and providing paper bags for free. A higher fee for plastic bags, as seen in Ireland's successful bag ban, could be a motivating factor for shoppers to bring their own bags, reducing plastic waste.
In addition to the direct impact on plastic waste, the ban is expected to have a positive impact on Washington's recycling system by reducing contamination in recycling and compost systems. The ban also aims to increase recycled content in bottles and trash bags and drive the development of new markets for recyclable plastic in the state.
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The enforcement of the ban
The statewide ban on single-use plastic bags in Washington was passed during the 2020 legislative session and went into effect on October 1, 2021, after a 9-month delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ban prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic carry-out bags by restaurants, retail stores, small vendors, grocery stores, takeout establishments, festivals, and markets. It also includes a requirement for retailers and restaurants to collect a pass-through charge for paper or reusable bags provided to customers. This charge was initially set at $0.08 per bag and was considered a taxable retail sale.
However, the enforcement of the ban has faced some challenges. Between October 2021 and July 2024, the state took 669 enforcement actions, with 160 of those in Southwest Washington. Repeated non-compliance by businesses can result in penalties. Additionally, the ban has not significantly reduced the total weight of plastic being recycled, and the weight of discarded plastic has remained high due to the heavier reusable bags.
To address these issues, Washington State has implemented additional measures. A new law, ESHB 1293, was passed in 2025, which made changes to the state's single-use plastic bag ban starting on January 1, 2026. This law increased the pass-through charge for plastic bags to $0.12 per bag, while maintaining the $0.08 charge for paper bags. It also included a $0.04 penalty for retailers and restaurants that distribute plastic bags with a thickness of 4 mils or greater, with the penalty amount being deposited into the state's waste reduction and recycling account. The law also delayed the required thickness increase for reusable plastic bags to 4 mils from January 1, 2026, to 2028.
The state has also focused on education and communication with business owners and customers to ensure a smooth transition to reusable bags. Toolkits with customizable materials, such as flyers, signage, and web graphics, have been developed and made available in multiple languages. Additionally, groups like Zero Waste Washington have continued to educate shoppers about the bag ban and the importance of reusing thicker bags.
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The fee for paper bags
Washington state's ban on single-use plastic bags came into effect on 1 October 2021. The ban prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic carry-out bags by restaurants, retail, small vendors, and grocery stores. The ban was implemented to reduce plastic pollution, litter, and waste, as well as to reduce contamination in the state's recycling and composting systems.
With this ban in place, there is now a fee for paper bags in certain circumstances. Large paper carryout bags (882 cubic inches or larger) cost 8 cents. Stores are not required to charge for small paper bags (those smaller than 882 cubic inches), however, all paper bags must meet the same composition requirements.
The 8-cent fee for large paper bags is not a tax but a charge that goes directly to the business where the bag was purchased. The fee reimburses the business for covering the cost of providing the bags and incentivizes customers to bring their own reusable bags. The charge must be shown as a taxable sale on the receipt provided to the customer. Businesses may choose to charge more than 8 cents per bag.
The fee may not be collected from anyone using a voucher or electronic benefits card issued under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or Food Assistance Program (FAP).
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The thickness of plastic bags
In 2021, Washington implemented a new law to reduce the use of single-use plastics in the state. This included a ban on single-use plastic bags, which came into effect on October 1, 2021. The ban prohibits the distribution of single-use plastic carry-out bags by restaurants, retail stores, small vendors, and grocery stores.
As part of the new law, plastic bags provided by retailers and restaurants must be a minimum of 2.25 mil thick until January 1, 2028, after which the minimum thickness will increase to 4 mil. Bags of 2.25 mil are technically reusable, but few people reuse them. A study by Save Our Shores found that out of 740 shoppers surveyed, only 4 had reused a bag of that thickness. Groups such as Save Our Shores advocate for a minimum thickness of 4 mil for bags to be classified as reusable.
To encourage compliance with the new law, retailers and restaurants that choose to distribute plastic bags that are 4 mil thick or greater must collect an additional 4-cent charge on top of the existing 12-cent bag fee, resulting in a total charge of 16 cents per bag. This additional charge will be in effect from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2027. The 4-cent penalty must be deposited into the Washington State waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the state of Washington banned single-use plastic bags in October 2021.
The ban was implemented to reduce plastic waste and encourage the use of reusable bags.
Yes, some single-use plastic bags are exempt, including bags used for meat and produce, prescriptions, and newspaper or dry cleaning. Plastic bags sold in packages for garbage or pet waste are also exempt.
Yes, there is a $250 fine for repeated violations of the ban. Retailers who sell reusable plastic bags before 2028 will also be penalized by four cents per bag.
While it is still early, a study by Waste Connections found little change in the total weight of plastic being recycled since the ban was implemented. However, the ban is expected to benefit the state's recycling system by reducing contamination.
