Washington's statewide plastic carryout bag ban under RCW 70A.530 took effect in 2021 and applies countywide. Stores cannot give thin plastic carryout bags. Reusable bags and recycled-content paper bags meeting state standards are allowed and must be sold for at least eight cents each.
RCW 70A.530, signed in 2020 and implemented statewide on October 1, 2021, prohibits retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags. Allowed alternatives include thicker reusable plastic bags of at least 2.25 mils with handles and recycled-content paper bags. Retailers must charge at least eight cents per bag, retain the fee, and itemize it on receipts. The law preempted King County's earlier local ban and Seattle's prior ordinance. WA Department of Ecology enforces compliance, with first warnings before civil penalties up to 250 dollars per day.
Providing prohibited thin plastic bags or failing to charge the eight cent fee can result in Department of Ecology warnings followed by civil penalties up to 250 dollars per violation per day.
See how Bellevue's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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