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 carryout 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 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 40% post-consumer recycled content. Must be labeled “Reusable” and have the mil thickness and post-consumer recycled content percentage printed on the bag.
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, such as for food storage, garbage, or pet waste
What about compostable bags?
Compostable film bags for products used by customers in stores before checkout must meet the requirements for compostable products and film bags in Chapter 70A.455 RCW. Only compostable bags can be tinted green or brown (Chapter 70A.455 RCW). No bag can use the following misleading labels: "biodegradable," "decomposable," "degradable."
Businesses are allowed to give these bags to customers at checkout, and the 12-cent charge is optional. However, we do not recommend their use. Most composting facilities in Washington cannot accept these bags. If you are considering offering compostable bags, please reach out to your local composting facility to inquire about whether or not they are accepted.
What is a “mil” (as in the 2.25 mil requirements for reusable plastic bags)?
A mil is a measurement that equals one-thousandth of an inch, or 0.001 inch. One mil also equals 0.0254 mm (millimeter). Reusable plastic bags sold for 12 cents under the new bag ban are required to be 2.25 mil in thickness.
Where does the 8-cent fee on paper and 12-cent fee on reusable plastic bags go?
Businesses collect and keep the entire fee (8 cents for paper and 12 cents for plastic) to recover some of the cost of providing the bags, and to incentivize 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 or 12 cents per bag.
Why did the state ban lightweight plastic carryout bags but allow heavyweight, thicker ones?
The thicker, stronger plastic bags — those 2.25 mil 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 40% post-consumer recycled content, have the recycled content printed on the outside of the bag, and be labeled with the printed term “Reusable”.
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 are designed to be used many times and can carry two to three times as much weight 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 noncompliant business with additional information, resources, and technical assistance. Though we intend to respond with compliance assistance whenever possible, 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 carryout paper bags are allowed?
The bag ban requires businesses to charge 8 cents for large paper carry-out bags (1/8 barrel paper bags 882 cubic inches or larger). Smaller paper bags may be provided without charging the 8 cents, but all paper bags must be made of at least 40 percent post-consumer recycled content and/or wheat straw and be labeled with this percentage on the outside of the bag.
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 percent post-consumer recycled content, 40 precent wheat straw, or a combination of these materials equal to 40 percent. The percentage of this content must be printed somewhere on the exterior of the bag.
Can my business use bags that are almost 2.25 mils thick?
Should a question arise, retailers must be prepared to show that the bags they are using are at least 2.25 mils thick and are labeled with the mil thickness somewhere on the exterior of the bag. If retailers are using bags that are 4 mils or thicker, they must apply an additional 4-cent charge to the 12-cent bag fee (16-cents total). This penalty will be in effect from Jan. 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2027. Businesses that provide 4-mil thick bags must deposit the 4-cent penalty in the Washington State waste reduction, recycling, and litter control account under Chapter 70A.200.140 RCW.
Where does the 8-cent fee on paper and 12-cent fee on reusable plastic bags go?
Businesses collect and keep the entire 8 or 12 cents to recover some of the cost of providing the bags and to incentivize 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 the 8-cent fee per paper bag or the 12-cent fee per reusable plastic bag.
Are the 8-cent per paper bag and 12-cent per reusable plastic bag taxable?
Yes. The Washington State Department of Revenue has confirmed that these charges are subject to sales tax since retail stores are selling the bags.
Can retailers “eat the cost” of approved plastic and paper checkout bags and not charge their customers?
No. The minimum 8-cent per paper bag and 12-cent per reusable plastic bag charge must be collected and is intended to promote the use of reusable bags by customers. The number and total cost of these bags must be shown on the customer’s sales receipt. This ensures a level playing field among retailers.
What about low-income customers?
Customers using food benefits programs like these, are exempt from paying the 8-cent paper bag and 12-cent reusable plastic bag charge for paper or plastic film bags when using or presenting their food benefits card under:
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- The Washington Food Assistance Program (FAP)
We encourage customers to avoid the charge by bringing their own reusable bags. 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, will you offer any promotional assistance?
We provided an outreach toolkit in October 2020 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 this webpage.
What is the plan for informing retailers?
We developed training, education, and outreach materials to share with Washington businesses, associations, and their members.
We continue to 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 noncompliant businesses will be able to submit observations through our website. We will review complaints and respond by providing the business with additional information, resources, and technical assistance.
Initially, we'll work to assist lagging businesses to catch up with this ban. But repeated and continuous instances can result in up to a $250 fine.
Are bags used to wrap bakery goods banned?
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.
When are single-use plastic bags allowed for prepared food or bakery goods?
These goods may be wrapped in smaller plastic bags typically used for produce, but not in single-use plastic carryout bags. Single-use plastic carryout bags like those traditionally provided at point of sale are not allowed for prepared or bakery goods.
Does the 8-cent charge for paper bags and 12-cent charge for reusable plastic bags apply for businesses offering curbside pickup?
These charges are required for any large paper or thick reusable bag provided to the customer, regardless of whether it is at pickup or point of sale. Small paper bags may be provided without the 8-cent charge but must meet the required 40% post-consumer recycled content or wheat-straw minimum and be labeled with this percentage on the exterior of the bag.
Can businesses use up existing inventories of plastic bags without penalty?
No. Washington’s single-use bag ban came into effect October 2021 and previously existing inventories of single-use bags should be completely exhausted by now. If your business has questions, please contact us to discuss the details of your situation.
A business collects used bags from customers and supplies them for reuse. Is this still allowed under the new law?
Technically, no — you cannot provide single-use plastic bags or bags not meeting the new requirements, even if they are previously used and deposited.
Can businesses charge more than 8-cents per paper bag and 12-cents per reusable plastic bag?
Yes, businesses may charge more than these minimum required fees per bag as a taxable retail sale.
Since any charge more than 8-cents per paper bag and 12-cents per reusable plastic bag is not part of the statutorily defined passthrough charge, it cannot be deducted from that taxpayer’s income for the purposes of calculating B&O tax. RCW 70A.530.020(2)(c) requires that retail establishments show all pass-through charges on a receipt, as well.
Can businesses supply a smaller paper bag at no cost?
Paper bags smaller than the large barrel paper bags (882 cubic inches or larger) do not require an 8-cent charge. However, they must still meet the 40% post-consumer recycled content minimum and must be labeled on the exterior of the bag with this percentage.
