Washington’s Statewide single-use plastic bag ban goes into effect October 1, 2021. Initially set to go into effect on January 1, 2021, it was delayed due to compliant bag supply shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Plastic bags are a significant contaminant in Washington’s recycling facilities, waterways, roadways, and environment. Washington’s Plastic Bag Ban will reduce pollution by prohibiting single-use plastic carryout bags and charging a fee for acceptable bags in businesses beginning in October 2021.

The bag ban applies to all retail, grocery and convenience store, restaurant or establishments offering take-out or delivery food or goods, temporary stores or vendors and any event where food or goods are sold or distributed.

Banned bags include any single-use, plastic carry-out bag provided at delivery, check stand, cash register, point of sale, or other point of departure to a customer. Exceptions to the single-use plastic bag ban include consumers’ use inside stores for bulk items, produce, frozen food, meat, fish, flowers, potted plants, prepared food or bakery goods, prescription drugs. Exempt bags include newspaper bags, mailing pouches, Sealed envelopes, door hanger bags, dry cleaning bags, bags sold in packages with multiple bags, like food storage, garbage, or pet waste.

Allowed bags included paper bags made of at least 40% post-consumer recycled content or wheat straw. Paper bags must be labeled with their post-consumer recycled content. Thick, reusable plastic bags (at least 2.25 mil) made of at least 20% post-consumer recycled content. Must be labeled “Reusable” and have the mil thickness and post-consumer recycled content percentage printed on the bag.

Businesses will charge an eight-cent per bag fee. Businesses collect and keep the entire 8 cents to recover some of the cost of providing the bags and incentivize customers to bring their own reusable bags. The charge must be shown as a taxable sale on the receipt provided to the customer. If a business elects to charge more than 8 cents, any amount over this minimum must be listed as a separate line item for tax purposes.

For more information, visit Ecology.wa.gov/Bag-Ban or email [email protected].