Kentucky law (KRS 65.067) partially preempts local plastic bag bans and fees, so Lexington-Fayette has not adopted a single-use plastic bag ordinance; voluntary retailer take-back programs are the main mechanism.
KRS 65.067, enacted in 2017 and tightened in subsequent sessions, prohibits Kentucky cities and counties from imposing a tax, fee, or outright ban on auxiliary containers, including plastic carryout bags, polystyrene foam containers, and similar disposable food packaging. This preemption blocks Louisville, Lexington, and other Kentucky cities from following Seattle, Boston, or California with bag bans. As a result, Lexington-Fayette has no enforceable plastic bag ordinance. Local efforts focus on voluntary actions: Kroger and Meijer take-back bins for film plastic recycling, LFUCG's Live Green Lexington outreach encouraging reusable bags, and procurement preferences in city contracts.
There is no local violation because state law preempts local bag bans; retailers face no city penalty for plastic bag distribution under current Kentucky law.
Lexington, KY
Lexington provides single-stream curbside recycling for all residential properties. Accepted materials include paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and containe...
Lexington, KY
Kentucky's auxiliary container preemption (KRS 65.067) blocks Lexington from banning polystyrene foam takeout containers; however, LFUCG procurement policy a...
See how Lexington's plastic bag rules rules stack up against other locations.
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