Single-Use Items in Manchester, NH: What Residents Actually Need to Know

Every city handles single-use items a little differently. In Manchester, New Hampshire, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Plastic Bag Rules

Manchester cannot adopt a plastic bag ban or fee. NH SB 233 (signed 2024) and NH RSA 149-N preempt all local single-use bag regulations. Retailers in Manchester may distribute plastic carryout bags freely, and any prior city ban would be void.

Key details: State preemption: NH SB 233 (2024). Statute: NH RSA 149-N. Local ban allowed: No. Voluntary programs: Permitted.

Because NH preempts local bag regulation, retailers face no Manchester penalty for distributing plastic bags. False biodegradable or compostable labeling, however, can still trigger FTC and NH consumer protection enforcement.

Manchester is more permissive than most cities when it comes to plastic bag rules. That said, there are still limits.

Polystyrene Foam Rules

Manchester has no local ban on expanded polystyrene foam takeout containers. NH does not regulate polystyrene at the state level, and the city's preemption posture under NH RSA 149-N for bags signals broad legislative resistance to local single-use mandates.

Key details: Local ban: None. State law: No NH polystyrene ban. Solid waste: NH RSA 149-M applies. Maine compares: 38 MRSA 1611 bans foam.

There are no Manchester penalties for using polystyrene foam containers. Standard NH RSA 149-M solid waste violations and city litter rules under Chapter 310 still apply to improper disposal of foam.

The rules around polystyrene foam rules in Manchester lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Manchester gives residents more room on single-use items. 2 of the 2 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Manchester's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.