Bill > S406

This bill, titled "Relative to plastic bag reduction," establishes new regulations for stores regarding the distribution and sale of bags. It defines key terms such as "postconsumer recycled material," "recycled paper bag," "reusable grocery bag," and "single-use carryout bag," which is a bag provided by a store that is not a recycled paper bag or a reusable grocery bag, with specific exceptions for pharmacies, protecting other items, unwrapped food, and clothing. Starting July 1, 2017, stores are prohibited from providing single-use carryout bags and can instead offer for purchase reusable grocery bags or recycled paper bags for at least ten cents each, and compostable plastic bags for at least ten cents. However, by July 1, 2021, compostable plastic bags will be banned, and only marine degradable plastic bags can be sold for at least ten cents. All collected funds from bag sales will be retained by the store, and the Department of Environmental Protection will create regulations for enforcement. This chapter is intended to be a statewide standard, preventing local governments from enacting or enforcing their own bag regulations adopted after September 1, 2016, unless expressly allowed by this bill, though pre-existing local ordinances adopted before that date can continue to be enforced.