Plastic Bag Rules: Arlington vs Fort Worth
How do plastic bag rules rules compare between Arlington, TX and Fort Worth, TX?
Arlington and Fort Worth have similar restriction levels.
Arlington, TX
Tarrant County
After the 2018 Texas Supreme Court ruling in Laredo Merchants Association v. Laredo, Arlington cannot ban or tax single-use plastic checkout bags; only voluntary retailer programs apply.
View full Arlington rules →Fort Worth, TX
Tarrant County
Fort Worth has no plastic bag ban. Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0961 preempts local checkout-bag ordinances, as the Texas Supreme Court confirmed in City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Ass'n (2018). Fort Worth never enacted one and instead promotes voluntary recycling through the Crud Cruiser, Drop-Off Stations, and Knowing Your H2O programs.
View full Fort Worth rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Arlington | Fort Worth |
|---|---|---|
| Controlling case | Laredo Merchants v. Laredo (2018) | - |
| Preempting statute | Tex. Solid Waste Disposal Act | - |
| Local ban | Prohibited | - |
| Voluntary fees | Allowed by retailers | - |
| Local Ordinance | - | None — never enacted |
| Preemption Statute | - | Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0961 |
| Controlling Case | - | City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Ass'n, 550 S.W.3d 586 (Tex. 2018) |
| City Programs | - | Drop-Off Stations, Crud Cruiser, BYOB outreach |
| Recycling Drop-Offs | - | Six city stations + retailer plastic-film bins |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Arlington FAQ
Can Arlington tax plastic bags at checkout?
No. The 2018 Laredo Merchants decision preempts local bag fees and bans. Only the Texas Legislature can authorize a state-level bag fee or change the preemption rule.
Can a store choose to charge for bags?
Yes. Voluntary retailer fees and reusable-bag programs are not preempted because they are private business decisions, not government mandates on bag use.
Fort Worth FAQ
Does Fort Worth have a plastic bag ban?
No. Fort Worth never enacted a bag ban and cannot do so — Tex. Health & Safety Code § 361.0961, as construed by City of Laredo v. Laredo Merchants Ass'n (2018), preempts local checkout-bag ordinances. The city's approach is voluntary recycling.
Where can I recycle plastic bags in Fort Worth?
Drop them at any of the six Fort Worth Drop-Off Stations or at the plastic-film recycling bins at the front of Kroger, Tom Thumb, and Walmart locations. Curbside blue carts do NOT accept plastic bags — they jam the sorting machinery.
Could Texas ever let Fort Worth ban plastic bags?
Only the Texas Legislature can repeal or amend § 361.0961, and there has been no successful effort to do so since 2018. Until that happens, Fort Worth and every other Texas city is barred from local bag bans or fees.
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