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How many states make you pay for grocery bags?

The law prevents retailers from supplying plastic bags unless they provide a convenient storefront receptacle to ensure used bags are collected and recycled. Since then at least four other states—California, Delaware, New York and Rhode Island—and the District of Columbia have followed suit.

ncsl.org - State Plastic Bag Legislation

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State legislatures have considered a number of measures to reduce the prevalence of plastic bags at grocery stores and other businesses. Reducing bag use can mitigate harmful impacts to oceans, rivers, lakes, forests and the wildlife that inhabit them. It can also relieve pressure on landfills and waste management. While some states are focusing on implementing effective recycling programs, others are imposing bans or fees to discourage the use of plastic bags altogether.

Bans and Fees

Eight states—California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon and Vermont—have banned single-use plastic bags. In August 2014, California became the first state to enact legislation imposing a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags at large retail stores. The bill also required a 10-cent minimum charge for recycled paper bags, reusable plastic bags, and compostable bags at certain locations. The ban was set to take effect on July 1, 2015, but a referendum forced the issue onto the ballot in the November 2016 election. Proposition 67 passed with 52 percent of the vote, meaning the plastic bag ban approved by the Legislature remains the law. A detailed summary of the law can be found below. Voters also rejected a second measure, Proposition 65, which proposed to create an environmental fund with proceeds from a 10-cent charge for alternative bags. Hawaii has a de facto statewide ban as all of its most populous counties prohibit non-biodegradable plastic bags at checkout, as well as paper bags containing less than 40 percent recycled material. Bans in Kauai, Maui and Hawaii counties took effect between 2011 and 2013, with Honolulu becoming the last major county to approve the ban in 2015. New York became the third state to ban plastic bags in 2019 with passage of Senate Bill 1508. The law, which goes into effect March 2020, will apply to most single-use plastic bags provided by grocery stores and other retailers. Bags distributed at the meat/deli counter and bulk food area are exempt, as well as newspaper bags, trash bags, garment bags, bags provided by a pharmacy for prescription drugs, and restaurant takeout bags. The law allows individual counties the option of placing a 5-cent fee on paper bags, with 2 cents going to local governments and 3 cents to the state's Environmental Protection Fund. Five other states enacted legislation in 2019—Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Oregon and Vermont. In addition to plastic bags, Vermont's SB 113 also placed restrictions on single-use straws and polystrene containers. In 2009, the District of Columbia enacted legislation requiring all businesses that sell food or alcohol to charge 5 cents for each carryout paper or plastic bag.

Recycling Programs

States have a long history of pursuing legislation related to labeling, recycling, and reusing plastic bags. In 1991, Maine became the first state to enact legislation requiring recycling efforts at retail stores. The law prevents retailers from supplying plastic bags unless they provide a convenient storefront receptacle to ensure used bags are collected and recycled. Since then at least four other states—California, Delaware, New York and Rhode Island—and the District of Columbia have followed suit.

Legislation Summary

State lawmakers have introduced at least 95 bills in 2019 related to plastic bags. Most of these bills would ban or place a fee on plastic bags. Others would preempt local government action or improve bag recycling programs.

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What is SoluBag made of?

The SoluBag material is made from non-toxic components, specifically starch and polyvinyl alcohol, allowing a look and texture of a plastic bag. This patented material was invented by a Chilean company and licensed to Toto to produce these innovative bags.

aim2flourish.com - Dissolving Plastic Problems - AIM2Flourish

Innovation

The innovation that is being offered to the public by Toto (a Salvadoran company dedicated to the production of plastic packaging) is called “Solubag,” which is a substitute for the plastic bag that dissolves in the water without leaving microplastics. In terms of the relationship with the SDGs, we can see a clear link between the solution that the company has developed and the SDGs 6, 12, 14, and 15. In the first place, by being able to dissolve in water, this bag represents a big advance in terms of solving the amount of plastic waste that is being thrown into the environment, which helps with SDGs 6 and 14. In the case that the bag does not end at any source of water, the bag decomposes in less than six months due to the humidity and temperature conditions. Consequently, this bag doesn’t negatively impact life on the land, aligning with SDG 15. The SoluBag material is made from non-toxic components, specifically starch and polyvinyl alcohol, allowing a look and texture of a plastic bag. This patented material was invented by a Chilean company and licensed to Toto to produce these innovative bags. Nevertheless, Toto has as much to do with the innovation, as they have developed the necessary protocol to manipulate that material and be able to produce the bags that they offer to the public nowadays. A fascinating feature of the product is that it is safe for the people and the environment, up to the point that it is completely good for a human being to dissolve one of these bags in water and drink it at the moment. Undoubtedly, this product reflects that working towards responsible consumption and production (SDG 12) is crucial for the future.

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