These States Ban Single-Use Plastic Shopping Bags (or Charge for Them)

Although Starbucks reusable cups seem to have caught on, supermarkets are still trying to get people to use reusable bags. But if you’re like me, you forget them at home, or in your car, or haven’t got around to buying any yet.

There’s a lot to be said about how dreadful single-use plastic shopping bags are for the environment, but we all need a little push to reduce our use. Target recently announced they’re doing their part in pushing us to be less wasteful by charging bag fees for Drive Up and Pickup orders, based on local and state mandates. An initial $1 hold (for 10 bags) will show up on your receipt. However, Target will adjust the fees to the actual number of bags used when preparing your order. You can view the final bag charge in your Target account on Target.com (not available to view in the Target app). Although you can decline bags at the time of pickup and receive a refund, Target doesn’t have a ‘no bags’ option when placing your order.

Various states, counties, and cities have passed laws, regulations, and ordinances designed to reduce the number of single-use plastic bags in circulation. In some cases, you’ll have to pay for plastic bags. In other cases, you’ll have to pay for reusable or recyclable bags.

If you’re counting pennies, you’ll want to know how much extra you’ll be spending per bag. And according to Penn State University, the average household uses 15 bags per shopping trip — 1,500 per year. Even if you paid $0.05 per bag, each household would be spending $75 a year.

 

First, here’s who has the best prices on reusable shopping bags.

• Amazon: 50 reusable shopping bags, $27.52 ($0.55 per bag)
• Walmart: Pet reusable shopping bags, $0.74 each
• Target: Basic reusable tote bag, $1.00 each

 

Here are the states that have passed rules regarding shopping bags:

Alaska

There’s no statewide ban on bags, but these communities have implemented restrictions:

• Total ban on plastic shopping bags: Anchorage, Bethel, Dillingham, Galena, Haines, Homer, McGrath, Mountain Village, Saint Paul, Seward
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 2.25 mm thick: Cordova, Soldotna, Wasilla
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 4 mm thick: Kodiak, Palmer, Unalaska

 

California

There’s been a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags and a $0.10 tax for paper bags and reusable bags.

Any reusable plastic bags available in California must be compostable or recyclable, and stores must have an at-store recycling program for their bags.

 

Colorado

The Colorado General Assembly passed HB 21-1162 in 2021, which will ultimately ban all retailers with four or more locations from providing single-use plastic bags to customers. While the state is sunsetting plastic bags between Jan. 1, 2023 and Jan. 1, 2024, stores may provide a recycled paper bag or a single-use plastic bag for a $0.10 fee (or larger, if a particular city has a higher fee).

The bag fee doesn’t apply to customers who are part of a federal or state food assistance program (like SNAP).

Cities with their own local bag legislation:

• Aspen
• Avon
• Boulder
• Breckenridge
• Carbondale
• Crested Butte
• Denver
• Dillon
• Fort Collins
• Fraser
• Frisco
• Louisville
• Nederland
• Ridgway
• Telluride
• Winter Park

 

Connecticut

In Connecticut, the state legislature passed a statewide $0.10 tax on plastic bags, which went into effect on Aug. 1, 2019. Various communities and cities have passed their own ordinances related to plastic shopping bags — some of which carry higher fees:

• Branford
• Darien
• Fairfield
• Glastonbury
• Greenwich
• Groton
• Guilford
• Hamden
• Madison
• Mansfield
• Middletown
• New Britain
• New Canaan
• Newtown
• Norwalk
• Washington
• Westport
• Windham

 

 

Delaware

Since 2021, Delaware has had a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags (except “for only specific uses”). Stores are required to establish at-store recycling programs that give shoppers the ability to return their used plastic bags.

 

Florida

While there is no statewide legislation related to bag fees or single-use plastic bags, various communities in Florida have passed ordinances of their own. These cities have either implemented outright bans or bans on plastic bags thinner than a certain amount:

• Total ban on plastic shopping bags: Bal Harbour, Coral Gables, North Bay Village, Palm Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Surfside,
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 2.25 mm thick: Alachua County, Gainesville,

 

Georgia

While there is no statewide legislation related to bag fees or single-use plastic bags, the city of South Fulton, Georgia, has implemented a city-wide ban on plastic bags as of March 1, 2021.

 

Hawaii

Although there’s no official statewide single-use plastic bag ban in the State of Hawaii, each of the four counties passed rules of their own to limit the impact of plastics on their environment. Single-use plastic bags are prohibited (except for containing bulk items like seeds or nuts), and only recycled paper bags or reusable bags are allowed for a minimum fee of $0.15 each.

 

Illinois

While there is no statewide legislation related to bag fees or single-use plastic bags, various communities in Illinois have passed ordinances of their own. These cities have either implemented outright bans or bans on plastic bags thinner than a certain amount — and many charge at least a $0.07 fee per bag:

• $0.07 tax on paper and plastic bags: Chicago
• $0.10 tax on paper and plastic bags: Edwardsville
• $0.10 tax on plastic bags: Oak Park, Woodstock

• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 2.25 mm thick: Evanston

 

Maine

In 2020, the State of Maine began enforcing a bill that was passed in the Legislature banning single-use plastic bags. In addition to the statewide measure, these communities have passed their own ordinances related to shopping bags — some carrying at least $0.05 per reusable/paper bag fees:

• Total ban on plastic shopping bags: Bar Harbor, Belfast, Blue Hill, Brunswick, Camden, Kennebunk, Manchester, Saco, Waterville, York
• Total ban on plastic bags and $0.05 fee on paper bags: Freeport, Rockland
• Total ban on plastic bags and $0.15 fee on paper bags: Bath
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 2.25 mm thick:
• $0.05 fee on plastic bags: Cape Elizabeth, Topsham
• $0.05 fee on paper and plastic bags: Falmouth, Portland, South Portland
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 4 mm thick: Biddeford, Southwest Harbor
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 3 mm thick: Mount Desert

 

Maryland

While there is no statewide legislation related to bag fees or single-use plastic bags, various communities in Maryland have passed ordinances of their own. These cities have either implemented outright bans or bans on certain types of plastic bags:

• Total ban on plastic shopping bags: Chestertown, Takoma Park
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 4 mm thick: Baltimore
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 3 mm thick: Westminster
• $0.05 fee on plastic bags: Howard County, Montgomery County
• $0.05 fee on paper bags: Baltimore, Montgomery County
• Ban on plastic yard waste bags: Aberdeen, Hardford

 

Massachusetts

While there is no statewide legislation related to bag fees or single-use plastic bags, various communities in Massachusetts have passed ordinances of their own. These cities have either implemented outright bans or bans on certain types of plastic bags:

• Total ban on plastic shopping bags: Acton, Adams, Amherst, Andover, Aquinnah, Arlington, Ashland, Atholl, Bedford, Belmont, Brewster, Boston, Bourne, Bridgewater, Brookline, Buckland, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Chatham, Chilmark, Cohasset, Concord, Danvers, Dartmouth, Dedham, Dennis, Easthampton, Easton, Edgartown, Falmouth, Framingham, Franklin, Georgetown, Gloucester, Grafton, Great Barrington, Groton, Hadley, Halifax, Hamilton, Hanson, Harwich, Haverhill, Hingham, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Lee, Lenox, Lexington, Lincoln, Longmeadow, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Manchester, Mansfield, Marblehead, Marshfield, Maynard, Medfield, Medway, Melrose, Millis, Milton, Nattick, Newburyport, Newton, Northborough, Northampton, Norwell, Oak Bluffs, Peabody, Peperrell, Plymouth, Pittsfield, Plainville, Provincetown, Rockport, Quincy, Salem, Sandwich, Scituate, Sharon, Somerville, South Haldey, Springfield, Stockbridge, Sudbury, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Tisbury, Topsfield, Truro, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Walpole, Watertown, Wayland, Wellesley, Wellfleet, West Tisbury, Westborough, Westford, Weston, Williamstown, Wilmington, Winchester, Wrentham, Yarmouth
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 4 mm thick: Abington, Attleboro, Auburn, Becket, Beverly, Chelmsford, Dalton, Eastham, Essex, Medford, North Attleborough, revere, Saugus, Seekonk, Shrewsbury
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 3.5 mm thick: Orleans
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 3 mm thick: Amesbury, Barnstable, Billerica, Chelsea, Duxbury, Reading, Winthrop, Worcester
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 2.5 mm thick: Berlin, Dover, North Reading, Randolph, Southbridge, Stoneham, Townsend
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 2.25 mm thick: Steamboat Springs
• Ban on plastic shopping bags smaller than 1.5 mm thick: Mashpee
• $0.05 fee on paper/reusable bags: Boston
• $0.10 fee on paper bags: Easthampton, Falmouth, Framingham, Newton, Westborough, Winthrop
• $0.20 fee on paper bags: Steamboat Springs
• $0.25 fee on paper/reusable bags: Buckland

 

Michigan

Michigan has no current state ban on plastic bags. However, Washtenaw County bans all plastic bags and charges $0.10 for reusable bags.

 

Minnesota

While Minnesota doesn’t have state legislation regarding plastic bags, two cities have fees for using them.

• $0.05 for plastic bags: Duluth
• $0.05 for plastic and paper bags: Minneapolis

 

 

New Hampshire

New Hampshire doesn’t have any statewide ban on plastic bags. However, the city of New London bans all polyethylene bags.

 

New Jersey

Although New Jersey doesn’t currently have any legislation regarding plastic bags, several cities and counties have bans on plastic bags:

• $0.05 for plastic bags: Somers Point, Teaneck
• $0.05 on plastic bags less than 2.5 mm and paper bags: Ventnor
• Ban on plastic bags within parks: Atlantic County
• Total ban on all plastic bags: Avalon, Beach Haven, Belmar, Bradley Beach, Brigantine Beach, Chatham Township, Cranford, Fair Haven, Glen Rock, Hopewell Borough, Jersey City, Long Beach, Monmouth Beach, Paramus, Point Pleasant Beach, Stafford Township, Stone Harbor
• Total ban on all PE bags: Cape May
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.25 mm: Asbury Park, Atlantic Highlands, Bayonne,Garfield, Harvey Cedars, Little Silver, Ocean Gate, Readington, Red Bank, Ridgewood, Saddle Brook, Somers Point
• $0.10 for paper bags: Haworth, Morris Township
• $0.10 for paper or plastic bags: Longport
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.25 mm, charges $0.10 for reusable bags: Kearny
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.25 mm, charges $0.10 for paper or reusable bags: Collingswood, Sea Bright, Woodland Park
• Total ban on PE bags: Long Branch, Summit
• Total ban on PE bags and charge $0.10 for paper bags: Berkeley Heights, Chatham Borough, Madison, Secaucus, Trenton
• $0.05 for paper bags and $0.10 for reusable bags: Millburn
• $0.05 for paper bags: Maplewood, South Orange
• Total ban on plastic bags (in large stores), charges $0.10 for paper bags: Highland Park, Montclair
• $0.10 – $0.25 for paper and reusable bags: Parsippany
• Charges up to $0.25 for paper and reusable bags (low-income shoppers exempt): Hoboken

 

New Mexico

Although New Mexico doesn’t have current legislation on plastic bags, some cities have their own local bag legislation.

• Total ban on all PE bags: Neming
• Total ban on all PE bags, charges $0.10 for plastic bags: Las Cruces
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.25 mm: Taos
• Total ban on plastic bags: Bernalillo County, Silver City
• Total ban on plastic bags, optional $0.10 for reusable plastic or paper bags: Albuquerque
• Total ban on all plastic bags, charges $0.10 for paper bags: Santa Fe

 

New York

New York state has a statewide ban on plastic bags. Several cities and counties have their own local bag legislation in addition.

• Total ban on plastic bags: Dutchess County, East Hampton, Hastings on Hudson, Larchmont, Mamaroneck, New Paltz Village, Patchogue Village, Rye, Sag Harbor, Southampton, Ulster County
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.25 mm: Rockland County
• $0.05 for a plastic bag: Long Beach, New York City, Sea Cliff
• $0.05 for plastic and paper bags: Suffolk County
• $0.10 for plastic and paper bags: Bedford
• $0.10 on paper bags: New Castle
• $0.15 per paper bag: Lewisboro

 

North Carolina

While North Carolina has no statewide legislation on plastic bags, Hyde County has a total ban on them.

 

Ohio

Ohio has no current state legislation relating to plastic bags. However, some cities and counties have bans on plastic bags.

• Total ban on film plastic bags: Cuyahoga County
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.25 mm: Bexley, Orange
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.25 mm, charges $0.05 per paper bag: Cincinnati

 

Oregon

Oregon has a statewide ban on plastic bags with a $0.05 tax on plastic and paper bags.

Some cities have their own local bag legislation.

• Total ban on plastic bags: Bend, Hillsboro, Forest Grove, Hood River, Manzanita, McMinnville, Milwaukie, Portland
• Ban on plastic bags, and charges a min $0.05 for paper bags: Newport, Salem
• Ban on plastic bags, charges $0.10 for paper bags: Ashland, Corvallis, Eugene, Lake Oswego

 

 

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has no current state legislation regarding plastic bags. Several cities and townships have some form of ban.

• Ban on all PE bags: Haverford Township, Philadelphia
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.25 mm and charges min. $0.15 per bag: Easttown Township, Solebury Township, West Goshen Township
• Ban on plastic bags less than 4 mm: West Chester
• Ban on all PE bags, charges $0.10 for paper bags: Pittsburgh, Radnor Township
• Ban on all PE bags, charges a min $0.15 for paper bags: West Norriton Township, Tredyffrin Township
• Charges $0.10 per plastic bag: Narberth

 

Rhode Island

Rhode Island has no statewide legislation regarding plastic bags. However, several cities have bans.

• Total ban on all PE bags: Bristol, Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, East Greenwich, South Kingstown, Warren
• Total ban on all plastic bags: Barrington, North Kingstown, New Shoreham, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Jamestown
• Ban on plastic bags less than 4 mm: Westerly
• Ban on plastic bags and charges $0.10 for paper and reusable bags: Providence

 

South Carolina

While South Carolina has no statewide legislation relating to plastic bags, several counties and cities have bans.

• Ban plastic bags less than 2.25 mm: Camden, North Myrtle Beach, Seabrook Island
• Ban on plastic bags less than 4 mm: Beaufort County, Charleston, Charleston County, Folly Beach, Isle of Palms, Kiawah Island, Mt. Pleasant, Sullivan’s Island, Surfside Beach
• Total ban on plastic bags: Arcadia Lakes, James Island, Edisto Beach

 

Utah

Utah doesn’t have current statewide legislation regarding plastic bags, but these cities have implemented their own rules regarding single-use shopping bags:

• Total ban on plastic bags: Moab
• Ban on plastic bags in stores with over 12,000 square feet: Park CIty
• Stores must charge for bags and implement a recycling program or charge a $0.10 per bag fee: Logan

 

Vermont

Vermont has a statewide ban on plastic bags, but in addition to that, these cities have their own single-use plastic bags laws on the books:

• Total ban on plastic bags: Brattleboro, Wilmington
• Total ban on plastic bags, charges $0.10 per paper bag: Norwich

 

Virginia

Virginia has no state legislation relating to plastic bigs.

• Total ban on bags and charges $0.05 per paper bag: Roanoke
• Ban on plastic bags less than 4 mm and charge $0.05 per paper bag: Albemarle County, Arlington County, Alexandra, Fairfax County, Falls County, Fredericksburg County, Louden County

 

 

Washington

While there is no statewide legislation regarding single-use plastic bags, all of the following cities and counties have a ban on plastic bags.

• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.25 mm: Gig Harbor, Quil Ceda Village, Tacoma
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.5 mm and charges $0.05 per paper bag: Port Angeles
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.5 mm and charges $0.08 per paper bag: Bremerton, Kent, Kitsap County, Port Orchard, Poulsbo
• Ban on plastic bags less than 2.5 mm and charges $0.10 per paper bag: Lake Forest Park, Snohomish
• Total ban on plastic bags: Edmonds, Everett, Friday Harbor, La Conner, Mercer Island, Mukilteo, San Juan County
• Total ban on a plastic bags and charges $0.05 on paper bags: Bainbridge, Bellingham, Issaquah, Kenmore, Kirkland, Lacey, Olympia, Port Townsend, Seattle, Shoreline, Thurston County, Tumwater
• Total ban on a plastic bags and charges $0.10 on paper bags: Bothell, Burien
• City-wide $0.05 tax on plastic and paper bags: Ellensburg

 

Wyoming

While there’s no statewide legislation, there is a town-wide ban on plastic bags in Teton County and Jackson Hole. Larger retailers started having to abide by the rules on April 15, 2019, and smaller retailers followed on Nov. 15, 2019. There’s also a tax on paper bags: $0.20 per bag.

 

Other States

These states don’t have any existing or pending legislation related to plastic bags:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Indiana
• Idaho
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin