Kansas City, MO Single-Use Items: Plastic Bag Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Local Ordinance
- None. Missouri preempts
- Preemption Statute
- Mo. Rev. Stat. § 260.283 (2015)
- Original Bill
- HB 722 (2015)
- Curbside Status
- Bags NOT accepted in blue carts
- Drop-Off Partner
- Bridging the Gap + retailer film bins
Summary
Kansas City cannot enforce a plastic bag ban or fee. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 260.283 provides that 'no political subdivision shall impose any ban, fee, or tax upon the use of either paper or plastic bags for packaging of any item or good purchased from a merchant, itinerant vendor, or peddler.' The preemption applies statewide.
260.283. Paper or plastic bags, customers to have option, when — political subdivisions prohibited from imposing ban, fee, or tax on. — 1. All merchants, itinerant vendors, and peddlers doing business in this state shall have the option to provide customers either a paper or a plastic bag for the packaging of any item or good purchased, provided such purchase is of a size and manner commensurate with the use of paper and plastic bags.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no political subdivision shall impose any ban, fee, or tax upon the use of either paper or plastic bags for packaging of any item or good purchased from a merchant, itinerant vendor, or peddler. No political subdivision shall prohibit a consumer from using a reusable bag for the packaging of any item or good purchased from a merchant, itinerant vendor, or peddler.
(L. 2015 H.B. 722) *Effective 10-16-15, see § 21.250. H.B. 722 was vetoed on July 10, 2015. The veto was overridden September 16, 2015.
Full Breakdown
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 260.283 was enacted in 2015 (HB 722) and provides at subsection 2: 'No political subdivision shall impose any ban, fee, or tax upon the use of either paper or plastic bags for packaging of any item or good purchased from a merchant, itinerant vendor, or peddler.' The statute defines 'bag' broadly to include paper and plastic bags supplied by retailers at the point of sale. Columbia, MO had considered a bag ban before § 260.283 was enacted; the preemption foreclosed the proposal. Kansas City Solid Waste Division operates the Recycle More KC curbside program (which excludes plastic bags from the blue cart), the Bridging the Gap partnership for plastic-film drop-offs at participating retailers, and the Sustainable KC strategy. Kansas City's Climate Protection Plan includes voluntary plastics-reduction goals through Mayor Quinton Lucas's KC Spirit Playbook but cannot impose retailer mandates without state action.
Violations & Fines
Kansas City cannot fine retailers or shoppers for plastic-bag distribution. Litter from discarded bags is enforced under Kansas City Code Chapter 62 (Solid Waste) and Mo. Rev. Stat. § 577.073 (criminal littering). Putting plastic bags in curbside recycling carts is a contamination issue addressed through education, not citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kansas City have a plastic bag ban?
Can my Kansas City grocery store charge for plastic bags?
Where can I recycle plastic bags in Kansas City?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kansas City
Compare Kansas City to another location·View the Missouri single-use items overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.