Kansas City cannot ban or tax single-use plastic bags. Mo. Rev. Stat. 260.288, enacted in 2015, preempts cities and counties from regulating auxiliary containers, including plastic carryout bags, foam containers, and similar items.
Missouri Revised Statute 260.288, sometimes called the auxiliary container preemption law, prohibits any political subdivision in Missouri from imposing a tax, fee, or ban on auxiliary containers, including plastic and paper carryout bags, polystyrene cups, and similar single-use items used for transporting goods or food. The law was passed in 2015 and remains in effect. Kansas City has no plastic bag ban or fee. The City Council and KC Climate Protection Plan have explored voluntary reduction programs, retailer take-back, and recycling drop-offs, but legally cannot mandate bag elimination or charge a per-bag fee. State preemption applies regardless of city home-rule status.
Any KC ordinance attempting to ban or tax single-use bags would be void under state preemption. Retailers therefore face no city-level penalties for offering plastic bags at checkout.
Kansas City, MO
Kansas City cannot ban polystyrene foam takeout containers. Mo. Rev. Stat. 260.288 preempts any Missouri city from regulating auxiliary containers, including...
Kansas City, MO
Kansas City cannot mandate paper straws or upon-request-only service for single-use plastic straws. Mo. Rev. Stat. 260.288 preempts local auxiliary container...
See how Kansas City's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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