Plastic Bag Rules: Glendale vs Phoenix
How do plastic bag rules rules compare between Glendale, AZ and Phoenix, AZ?
Glendale and Phoenix have similar restriction levels.
Glendale, AZ
Maricopa County
ARS section 9-500.38, the 2015 Cooler Heads Prevail Act, bars Maricopa County and Arizona cities from banning, taxing, or imposing fees on plastic carryout bags. Stores across the county may distribute single-use plastic bags freely.
View full Glendale rules →Phoenix, AZ
Maricopa County
Phoenix cannot enforce a plastic bag ban or fee. A.R.S. § 9-500.38 declares 'the regulation of the sale, use and disposition of auxiliary containers' a matter of statewide concern and bars cities from imposing taxes, fees, or regulations on these items. Phoenix participates in the voluntary Bag Central Station retailer take-back program.
View full Phoenix rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Glendale | Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Preemption statute | ARS section 9-500.38 | - |
| Year enacted | 2015 (HB-2131) | - |
| County bag fee | Not allowed | - |
| Take-back program | Voluntary, store-based | - |
| Local Ordinance | - | None — Arizona preempts |
| Preemption Statute | - | A.R.S. § 9-500.38 (2015) |
| Scope | - | Bags, boxes, cups, bottles — all auxiliary containers |
| Enforcement Tool | - | A.R.S. § 41-194.01 (SB 1487) state-shared-revenue withholding |
| Voluntary Program | - | Bag Central Station retailer film drop-offs |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Glendale FAQ
Will Maricopa County ever charge me a fee for a plastic bag?
No. ARS section 9-500.38 preempts county and city bag fees and bans, and a violating jurisdiction risks losing state-shared revenue under SB-1487. Bag charges are unlawful here.
Can a Maricopa County grocery store voluntarily switch to paper only?
Yes. Private retailers may set their own packaging policies; the preemption only blocks government-imposed mandates. Several county grocers offer reusable bags and plastic-bag recycling stations.
Phoenix FAQ
Does Phoenix have a plastic bag ban?
No. Phoenix has no plastic bag ban or fee. A.R.S. § 9-500.38 preempts the city, and SB 1487 (A.R.S. § 41-194.01) gives the Attorney General power to withhold state shared revenue from any Arizona city that defies the preemption.
What happened to other Arizona cities' bag bans?
Bisbee passed a bag ordinance in 2014 before § 9-500.38; the legislature enacted the preemption in 2015 specifically to block it. After the Attorney General threatened to withhold state shared revenue, Bisbee repealed its ordinance. Tempe, Flagstaff, and Sedona dropped their proposals.
Where can I recycle plastic bags in Phoenix?
At any Bag Central Station drop-off bin in front of Fry's, Safeway, Albertsons, Walmart, Target, and most major Phoenix grocers. Bags must NOT go in your blue curbside cart — they jam the MRF sortation equipment and are pulled out as contamination.
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