Frequently Asked Questions

Commercial establishments are no longer permitted to provide any Customer a Single-Use, Plastic Carry-Out Bag (defined below), applying to bags provided for the purpose of carrying goods away from the point-of-sale, including takeout deliveries.

Per §320-2 of Ordinance No. 451-22, a SINGLE-USE, PLASTIC CARRY-OUT BAG is defined as:  any bag that is made predominantly of plastic that is made through a blown-film extrusion process, which is provided by an Operator of a Commercial Establishment to a Customer at the point-of-sale, but not including an Exempted Bag.

Business can still provide compliant bags that meet certain criteria.  

Per §320-2, a COMPLIANT BAG is defined as (abridged):  certain paper carry-out bags and reusable bags.

1. Paper Bag Requirements:
   1. Must be considered recyclable materials with a minimim of 40% post-consumer recycled material, and displaying the words "Recyclable" and/or "Reusable" in a highly visible manner on the outside fo the bag; or
   2. Must be able to be composted.
2. Reusable Bags Requirements:
   1. Made of cloth or other machine-washable fabric;
   2. A polypropylene bag; or
   3. Other material that is specifically designed and manufactured for multiple reuse.

YES - Businesses can decide whether to provide compliant paper bags for free or charge per bag.  The business may charge up to $0.15 per bag.  The EAC urges businesses to encourage their customers to bring their own reusable bags when they shop.

YES!

Per §320-2 of Ordinance No. 451-22, an EXEMPTED BAG is defined as:  a bag used inside a Commercial Establishment by a Customer to deliver perishable items to the point-of-sale at that establishing, including:

1. a bag used to package bulk items such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains, or candy;
2. a bag used to contain or wrap meats or fish, or to contain unwrapped prepared foods or bakery goods;
3. a bag used solely to contain live animals, such as fish or insects sold in a pet store; and/or
4. a bag sold in packaging containing multiple bags and intended for use as food storage bags, garbage bags, orpet waste bags, and packaged at teh time of manufacture of the bag.

YES - bags used to deliver perishable items to the point-of-sale are exempt.

Biodegradable plastic bags are 20-100% more expensive than petrochemical plastics, and although they are marketed as more eco-friendly solutions, able to break down into harmless material more quickly than traditional plastics, they do so only under certain conditions.  In addition, they require energy and create waste like other manufacturing processes.