Single-Use Items
State rules on plastic bags, polystyrene foam, and plastic straws, including states that explicitly preempt local bans or fees.
Plastic-bag law maps American politics better than almost any subject. Some states let cities ban bags and charge for paper; a dozen others passed statutes forbidding local regulation of "auxiliary containers," which ends the conversation before it starts.
Where cities may act, the toolkit has settled: bag bans with paper charges, straws on request, polystyrene foodware bans, and the newer accessories-on-request rules that make utensils and condiments opt-in.
All 50 States: Single-Use Items at the State Level
Each tile shows the strongest state-level rule for that state. Click a state to see its full statewide rules and how local cities are constrained.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
What's Covered
Plastic Bag Rules
Whether plastic carryout bags are banned, taxed, or exempt from local regulation under state preemption.
Polystyrene Foam Rules
State rules on expanded polystyrene foam (Styrofoam) cups, takeout containers, and packaging, including statewide bans and preemption of local bans.
Plastic Straw Rules
State rules on plastic straws, including on-request-only mandates, full bans, and states that preempt local straw ordinances.
Utensils-On-Request
Rules barring food vendors from automatically including plastic utensils, condiment packets, or napkins unless customers request them.
Plastic Cups
Restrictions on disposable plastic cups, including bans, fees, and reusable/compostable alternative requirements at events and food service.
Takeout Containers
Rules requiring compostable, recyclable, or reusable takeout containers, including LA's polystyrene ban and Customers-Bring-Their-Own programs.