Many jurisdictions (cities, states and countries) have enacted fees or bans on various forms of plastic. Bans on single use plastic bags and plastic water bottles are common. StopPlastics has prepared a list of jurisdictions with bans or fees and updates it on a regular basis.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Berkeley, California, Ban
The city will implement a countywide ban on plastic bags at stores with sales of $2 million or more a year that was passed earlier in the year by the Alameda County Waste Management Authority. For Berkeley, that should cut down on the number of bags that go into the bay each year. In 2009, volunteers picked up 5,017 plastic bags on the bay shoreline of Emeryville, Berkeley and Albany in just three hours. Save the Bay estimates 1 million plastic bags go into the San Francisco Bay each year.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Bethel, Alaska, Ban
This time, say advocates like Kathy Hanson, 'People were ready for it.'
For one thing, she said, they know they have options now like reusable bags and recyclable plastic. Plus they're hearing more about where the plastic bags end up. 'It's throughout our food chain now,' Hanson said. 'It's in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, it's in the plankton.'
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Beverley Hills, California, Ban
Single-use plastic bags are prohibited in Beverly Hills and paper bags are available for a 10-cent fee. The ban rolled out in stages – first to select stores starting on July 1, 2014 and the ban went into action for the remaining impacted stores on January 1, 2015.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Bisbee, Arizona, Ban
In December 2012 the Bisbee City Council enacted a voluntary disposable plastic bag ban that lasted for six months. This ban was deemed a success and extended; however, starting on April 22, 2014 a mandatory single-use plastic bag ban became active. Under the new ban retailers can provide paper bags for a 5-cent fee. In March 2015 the City Council voted to continue to uphold the ban.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Brookline, Mass, Ban
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Calabasas, California, Ban
Plastic bags make up about 25% of the waste stream, so banning bags like Calabasas did in 2011 reduces the amount of trash that just sits in landfills. Stores are no longer allowed to hand out plastic bags, but recyclable paper bags are available for 10-cents each. Under the law stores must also offer reusable shopping bags for sale.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, California (State-wide), Ban
Plastic bag ban for large retailers; 10 cent charge for paper bags. All local ordinances supersede this legislation.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, California state, Ban
Californians will vote on a bag ban in November 2016
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Cambridge, Mass, Ban
In a 8-1 vote the Cambridge City Council passed a single-use plastic bags ban that will go into effect in March 2015.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Campbell, California, Ban
The Campbell City Council unanimously passed a measure to ban disposable plastic bags in June of 2013. The single-use bag ban went into action on January 27, 2014 and the law also levies a 10-cent fee on paper bags. The fee was intended to increase to 25 cents in January 2015; however, the City Council voted in November 2014 to keep the fee at 10 cents.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Capitola, California, Ban
The City Council of Capitola unanimously passed a ban on disposable plastic shopping bags. In a 3-2 vote the council also implemented a fee on paper bags – the fee will start at 10 cents per bag and later be raised to 25 cents per bag.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, Ban
The city of Carmel-by-the-Sea, more commonly known as Carmel unanimously passed a ban on disposable plastic shopping bags on June 5, 2012. The ban initially called for a 5-cent fee to be levied against paper bags. This fee would gradually increase until it reached the 25-cent mark. It was intended to discourage the use of paper bags as a substitute for plastic, but due to opposition that part of the legislation was dropped.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Carolina Beach, North Carolina, Proposed Fee
Town officials in Carolina Beach are considering a proposal to implement a fee on disposable plastic bags.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Carpinteria, California, Ban
Carpinteria had to amend their very ambitious plastic bag ban after the Coalition to Save the Plastic Bag filed a lawsuit. The issue at the center of the lawsuit was the extension of the ban to restaurants. All restaurants and stores smaller than 3,000 square feet, or $5 million in annual sales will be exempt from the ban and paper bags will still be allowed. Businesses that sell both take-out food and groceries will only be allowed to use plastic bags for take out orders
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Chestertown, Maryland, Ban
In March 2011 the Chestertown council passed a ban on disposable plastic bags that took effect in January 2012. Shoppers can still use paper bags to carry goods home from the store, although people are encouraged to use reusable bags instead.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Chicago, Fee
August 2015, retailers occupying stores that are more than 10,000 square foot will no longer be allowed to offer plastic bags. The ban will be extended to smaller chain stores and franchises in August 2016, while small independent or non-franchise stores and restaurants will not be affected by the legislation.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Concord, Mass, Pending Ban
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Culver City, California, Ban
Disposable plastic bags are banned in Culver City and recyclable paper bags are available for a fee.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Cupertino, California, Ban
A bag ban in the city of Cupertino prohibits single-use plastic bags from most retail establishments. The law also mandates that all retailers within the city charge 10 cents for each paper bag given out. The original measure allowed for the paper bag fee to increase to 25 cents; however, the law was amended and the fee will remain at 10 cents.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Currituck County, North Carolina, Ban
Currituck County, North Carolina implemented a ban on disposable bags starting October 1, 2010. Retailers are not allowed to distribute plastic shopping bags, but paper bags made from at least 40 percent recycled materials are allowed. Such paper bags must be labeled as ‘made from recycled material’ and ‘recyclable.’ Retailers who provide paper bags must also offer a discount to shoppers who bring their own reusable bags.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Dana Point, California, Ban
The Dana Point City Council voted 4-1 to pass a disposable plastic bag ban that will begin on April 1, 2013. The ban rolls out in phases and will impact large retailers first and small retailers 6 months later. The ban was tailored to hold up against litigation that has been brought against other California cities attempting to pass bag bans, so restaurants are exempt and there is no fee to use paper bags.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Dare County, North Carolina, Ban
As of October 1, 2010 plastic bags are banned from Dare County, North Carolina. Retailers are not allowed to distribute plastic shopping bags. Retailers can provide paper bags made from at least 40 percent recycled materials, but the bags must be labeled as ‘made from recycled material’ and ‘recyclable.’ Retailers who provide paper bags must also offer a discount to shoppers who bring their own reusable bag.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Desert Hot Springs, California, Ban
After a unanimous vote the Desert Hot Springs City Council decided to implement a disposable plastic bag ban. The measure also levies a 10-cent fee on paper bags.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, District of Columbia, Fee
Six years ago, lawmakers sold the new legislation as a way to clean the Anacostia River, a waterway notorious for its toxic history and cringe-worthy pollutants, from soda bottles and cigarette butts to rusty tires and raw sewage. A catchy slogan — “Skip the Bag, Save the River” — promoted the river-cleaning cause. The nickels from the bag fee have contributed about $10 million — since 2010 — to the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Fund.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Dublin, California, Ban
Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, East Hampton, New York, Ban
As of September 22, 2015 disposable plastic bags will be banned in East Hampton.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Emeryville, Ban
Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Encinitas, California, Ban
In a 3-2 vote the Encinitas City Council passed a disposable plastic bag ban; the ban also levies a 10-cent fee on paper bags. The ban went into effect on April 10, 2015 for grocery stores and pharmacies; and it became officaal for other retailers and farmer's markets on October 10, 2015.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Falmounth, Mass, Pending Ban
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Fort Stockton, Texas, Ban
A bag ban was passed in Fort Stockton that was immediately followed by a state law that banned banning bags. Since the Fort Stockton ban was passed before the state law prohibiting banning plastic bags the city law was upheld.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Freeport, Maine, Ban
In a 5-0 vote the Freeport Town Council decided to pursue an ordinance that will ban or levy a fee on single-use plastic bags. The idea of banning plastic bags was first proposed locally last summer by two Freeport High School graduates, who argued that when the thin, inexpensive bags are discarded, they clutter landfills, litter oceans and contaminate fish and other sea life, posing a health hazard to animals and people.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Freer, Texas, Ban
Freer, TX
In December 2012 the Freer City Council passed a ban on single-use plastic bags. The ban become effective on June 2, 2013.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Fremont, Ban
Plastic bag ban; 10 cent charge for paper bags.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Gonzales, California, Ban
In July 2015 the City of Gonzales passed a single-use plastic bag ordinance, banning plastic bags and imposing a minimum 25-cent charge on paper or reusable bags. The ban took effect on January 1, 2015.
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NORTH AMERICA, USA, Great Barrington, Mass, Ban
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Greenfield, California, Ban
On August 12, 2014 the City of Greenfield adopted an ordinance banning single-use plastic bags and placing a minimum 25 cent charge on other bags. The law is effective in all retail stores and restaurants on February 12, 2015.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Grover Beach, California, Ban
The San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority implemented a single-use plastic bag ban in January 2012. The law also levies a 10-cent fee on paper bags. The ban went into effect on October 1, 2012.
NORTH AMERICA , USA, Harwich, Mass, Pending Ban
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, Ban
It became the first municipality in the New York region to forbid both single-use plastic bags and foam food containers.
NORTH AMERICA, USA, Hawaii, Ban
Bags will still be allowed to wrap fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and take-out home deliveries. Still, retailers caught violating the ban face heavy penalties: anywhere $100 to $1,000 dollars a day, per violation.
