Single-Use Items in Burlington, VT (2026)
4 verified single-use items rules for Burlington, Vermont, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Plastic Bag Rules
Vermont Act 69 of 2019 bans single-use plastic carryout bags at retail stores statewide, including Burlington. Stores must offer recycled paper or reusable bags, with a minimum charge per paper bag.
Single-use plastic bag ban under Vermont Act 69
Heavy RestrictionsVermont Act No. 69 (2019), 10 V.S.A. ch. 159, subch. 5, §§ 6692, 6693, 6699 (preempts municipal ordinances eff. July 1, 2020)
§ 6692. SINGLE-USE PLASTIC CARRYOUT BAGS; PROHIBITION. A store or food service establishment shall not provide a single-use plastic carryout bag to a customer. § 6693. RECYCLABLE PAPER CARRYOUT BAG (a) A store or food service establishment may provide a consumer a recyclable paper carryout bag at the point of sale if the bag is provided to the consumer for a charge of not less than $0.10 per ba...
Polystyrene Foam Rules
Vermont Act 69 prohibits expanded polystyrene foam food and beverage containers at all food service establishments. Burlington restaurants, cafes, and food trucks must use compliant alternatives like compostable or recyclable containers.
Polystyrene foam food container ban statewide
Heavy RestrictionsVermont Act No. 69 (2019), 10 V.S.A. ch. 159, subch. 5, § 6696 (Expanded Polystyrene Food Service Products); § 6697 (Civil Penalties); § 6699 (Preemption)
§ 6696. EXPANDED POLYSTYRENE FOOD SERVICE PRODUCTS (a) A person shall not sell or offer for sale in the State an expanded polystyrene food service product. (b) A store or food service establishment shall not sell or provide food or beverages in an expanded polystyrene food service product. (c) This section shall not prohibit a person from storing or packaging a food or beverage in an expanded p...
Plastic Straw Rules
Vermont Act 69 requires food service establishments to provide plastic straws only upon customer request. Burlington restaurants and cafes cannot proactively distribute plastic straws but may offer alternatives freely.
Plastic straws by request only under Vermont law
Some RestrictionsVermont Act No. 69 (2019), 10 V.S.A. ch. 159, subch. 5, § 6694 (Single-Use Plastic Straws); § 6695 (Single-Use Plastic Stirrers); § 6699 (Preemption)
§ 6694. SINGLE-USE PLASTIC STRAWS (a) A food service establishment shall not provide a single-use plastic straw to a customer, except that a food service establishment may provide a straw to a person upon request. (b) The prohibition on sale or provision of a single-use plastic straw under subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to: (1) a hospital licensed under 18 V.S.A. chapter 43; (2)...
Utensils-On-Request
Burlington food service follows Vermont practice of distributing single-use plastic utensils only when customers request them. Reducing default utensil distribution aligns with Lake Champlain protection efforts and waste reduction goals.
Plastic utensils provided only when requested
Some RestrictionsLooking for Chittenden County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Burlington city rules.
Single-Use Items in Chittenden County →