Who does the ban apply to?
- All retail, grocery, and convenience stores
- Any restaurant or establishment offering take-out or delivery food or goods
- Temporary stores or vendors
- Any event where food or goods are sold or distributed
What kind of bags are banned?
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.
What kind of bags are allowed?
- Paper bags made of at least 40% post-consumer recycled content. Paper bags must be labeled with their post-consumer recycled content.
- Plastic bags made of at least 20% post-consumer recycled content made of plastic film at least 2.25 mil think. These plastic bags must be labeled "Reusable," including post-consumer recycled content.
Are there any restrictions on customers bringing their own bags?
No. Customers are encouraged to bring and reuse their own bags when they shop. Some businesses may require customers to bag their own groceries in reusable bags. Customers should clean and disinfect their hands and reusable bags frequently.”
Exceptions to the single-use plastic bag ban include those used by consumers inside stores for:
- Bulk items
- Produce
- Frozen food
- Meat
- Fish
- Flowers
- Potted plants
- Prepared food or bakery goods
- Prescription drugs
These bags are also exempt:
- 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
What about compostable bags?
Compostable film bags for products bagged in stores before checkout must meet the requirements for compostable products and film bags in Chapter 70.360 RCW.
Businesses are allowed to give the bags to customers at checkout, with an optional fee. However, we can't currently recommend their use, because Washington lacks uniform composting infrastructure.
What are the requirements for reusable heavy-duty plastic bags sold in-store?
Reusable film plastic bags must contain a minimum of 20% post-consumer recycled content until July 1, 2022, and thereafter must be made from a minimum of 40% post-consumer recycled content.
The percentage of post-consumer recycled content, the mil thickness, and "Reusable" must be displayed in print on the outside of the plastic bag. Bags meeting these requirements are still subject to the 8-cent charge.
Where does the 8-cent fee on paper and reusable bags go?
Businesses collect and keep this fee, to recover some of the cost of providing the bags.
Why did the state ban lightweight plastic carryout bags but allow heavyweight, thicker ones?
The thicker, stronger plastic bags — those more than 2.25 millimeters thick — have special uses for which paper is not a good option or not readily available. These bags must still be made of at least 20% post-consumer recycled content and have the recycled content printed on the outside of the bag. In 2025, the required thickness increases to 4 mil.
Aren’t the non-woven polypropylene bags sold as reusable bags by many retailers as much of a problem as the lightweight throwaway bags they’re replacing?
No. When regularly used, the impact of reusable bags is less than that of the many more lightweight plastic bags they’ve replaced. They carry from two to three times as much as typical throwaway plastic bags, which often need to be doubled for strength.
How will this be enforced?
Anyone will be able to report a business using prohibited bags through this webpage, starting in 2021. We will review complaints and respond by providing the non-compliant business with additional information, resources, and technical assistance. Though Ecology intends to respond whenever possible with assistance in gaining compliance, repeated and continuous non-compliance may result in up to a $250 fine.
What laws changed?
The plastic bag ban reenacts and amends Chapter 43.21B.110 RCW. It also adds a new section to Chapter 82.04 RCW. This law is located at Chapter 70a.530 RCW.
Who does the ban apply to?
- All retail, grocery, and convenience stores
- Any restaurant or establishment offering takeout or delivery food or goods
- Temporary stores or vendors
- Any event where food or goods are sold or distributed
What should retailers do with bag inventory purchased before the ban effective date, Jan. 1, 2021?
Businesses may use up their existing plastic bag inventory without penalty until Dec. 31, 2021. But they may have to prove the bags were purchased before the ban. Chain stores with outlets outside of Washington may ship their bag inventory to those out-of-state locations.
Are there any restrictions on customers bringing their own bags?
No. Customers are encouraged to bring and reuse their own bags when they shop. Some businesses may require customers to bag their own groceries in reusable bags. Customers should clean and disinfect their hands and reusable bags frequently.
What are the requirements for paper bags?
Paper bags must contain at least 40% post-consumer recycled fiber, and be labeled with the bag's amount of recycled content and its recyclability, to meet statewide composting requirements.
What about bags that are almost 2.25 millimeters thick?
Should a question arise, retailers should be prepared to show that the bags they are using are 2.25 millimeters thick or greater and are labeled as such. No leniency will be given for bags under 2.25 millimeters.
Where does the 8-cent fee on paper and reusable bags go?
Businesses collect and keep this fee, to recover some of the cost of providing the bags.
Is the 8-cent fee taxable?
Yes. The Washington State Department of Revenue has confirmed that the 8-cent charge is subject to sales tax since retail stores are selling the bags.
Can retailers “eat the cost” of paper bags and not charge their customers?
No. The minimum 8-cent charge must be collected and is intended to promote the use of reusable bags by customers. The number of bags and total cost of recyclable paper bags sold must be shown on the customer’s sales receipt. This ensures a level playing field among retailers.
What about low-income customers?
The charge does not apply to customers with electronic benefits cards under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Washington State Food Assistance Program (FAP), the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) support programs.
The Plastic Bag Ban does not apply to food banks and other food assistance programs, but we encourage these organizations to reuse bags whenever possible.
During the transition is Ecology going to offer any promotional assistance?
In October, we'll provide an outreach toolkit with targeted informational fliers, point of sale cards, and "Bring Your Own Bag" signage.
We urge all businesses to display plastic bag ban signs, create promotional materials like branded reusable bags, and to direct questions to the this webpage.
What is the plan for informing retailers?
We will develop training, education, and outreach materials to share with Washington businesses, associations, and their members.
We will collaborate with:
- Northwest Grocery Association
- Alliances Northwest
- The Washington Hospitality Association,
- The Washington State Association of Counties
- The Washington Retail Association
- The Association of Washington Cities
- The Korean Grocers Association
Please contact us if your association would like to get involved.
How will this be enforced?
Members of the public who observe non-compliant businesses will be able to submit observations. Ecology staff will then review the complaint and respond by providing the business with additional information, resources, and technical assistance.
Initially, we'll work to assist lagging businesses to get current with this ban. But repeated and continuous instances can result in up to a $250 fine.
What about bakery goods?
Film plastic bags traditionally used by customers in stores for bulk items may be used for individual bakery goods, loaves of bread, and other pastries. They are exempt, as an in-store packaging, and can be used for produce, bulk foods, meat, ice cream, flowers, or any other items prone to moisture problems.