Plastic Bag Rules: Fitchburg vs Madison
How do plastic bag rules rules compare between Fitchburg, WI and Madison, WI?
Madison has fewer restrictions than Fitchburg.
Fitchburg, WI
Dane County
Wisconsin Statute 66.0419, enacted by 2015 Act 17, preempts cities, villages, towns, and counties from regulating, banning, or imposing fees on auxiliary containers including plastic bags, cups, and bottles.
View full Fitchburg rules →Madison, WI
Dane County
Wisconsin Act 302 (2016), codified at Wis. Stat. §66.0419, preempts any Madison ordinance regulating, banning, or charging fees on single-use plastic carryout bags, blocking the kind of policies seen in Milwaukee proposals or Minneapolis.
View full Madison rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fitchburg | Madison |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| Preemption statute | - | Wis. Stat. §66.0419 |
| Enacted | - | 2016 Wis. Act 302 |
| Local ban allowed | - | No |
| Voluntary programs | - | Permitted |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fitchburg FAQ
Madison FAQ
Why doesn't Madison ban plastic bags?
Wisconsin Act 302 (2016) preempts local container regulations. Madison legally cannot ban or fee plastic bags unless the legislature repeals Wis. Stat. §66.0419.
Can stores charge for bags voluntarily?
Yes. The preemption stops government mandates, not retailer business decisions. Some Madison co-ops and grocers charge five to ten cents per bag as a voluntary policy.
Compare other topics
See how Fitchburg and Madison compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool